Lack of clarity as family of murdered and burned woman seek swift justice

THE Mbekweni family of slain Siphokazi Booi in Paarl hope to get clarity about whether the man accused of murdering and burning the 27-yearold will indeed appear in the Western Cape High Court.

Sithobele Qebe made a brief appearance at the Paarl Magistrate's Court yesterday, where his case was postponed to December 2 for further investigation.

According to Booi's aunt, Nontando, the court heard that the regional court rejected the case.

“On October 4, when the accused was denied bail, we were informed that on his next appearance a date for either the regional court or high court would be given.

“Today the case was postponed so that the police can complete their investigation.

“We were also informed that the regional court rejected the case due to the gruesomeness and nature of the crime.

“We are hoping that by December everything will be clear,” she said.

Qebe was arrested last month and charged with the murder of his girlfriend after her burned body was found dumped close to the railway tracks on a dump site near his shack in White City.

An investigating officer had stated that Qebe confessed in a warning statement that he had assaulted Booi in the early hours of September 5.

After the alleged assault she vomited and fell asleep and didn't wake up.

He then allegedly realised that she had died and collected a dustbin, bundled her limp body into it with her feet up, then covered it all with a plastic sheet.

Qebe allegedly claimed that he left her body in the dustbin at the dump site but denied that he burned it.

The body was confirmed to be that of Booi after DNA was taken from her aunt Nontando.

Advocacy group Ilitha Labantu, who have been demonstrating outside the court, called for swift justice for Booi and her family.

Spokesperson Siyabulela Monakali said: “We strongly appeal that the investigations into the murder of Siphokazi go swiftly and accordingly so that the murder accused can be successfully convicted.

“The scourge of GBV has engulfed our communities and the Western Cape appears to be leading the rest of the nation when it comes to the scourge.”