Durban — The man charged with the murder of his 8-year-old son used the drawstring of the child’s shorts to strangle him.
This emerged on Monday in the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court where the bail application of Siyabonga Innocent Shezi was being heard.
Shezi is alleged to have beaten and strangled Sfundo Sibisi in Shongweni in January 2023, three months before the boy’s ninth birthday and a few days before he was due to start Grade 3 at Umthala Primary School in KwaNdengezi.
Shezi was arrested on the day of the murder. At the time he confessed and pointed out the crime scene to police following his court appearance. Shezi chose to abandon his bail application.
However, after a pre-trial conference was held, Shezi, in an about-turn, indicated he wanted to exercise his right to apply for bail.
In court on Monday, investigating officer Sergeant Victor Zondi said upon inspection of the child’s body they found Sfundo had been strangled with the drawstring of his shorts.
According to Zondi, on the day of the murder, Sfundo had been with his aunt while his mother was at work.
Shezi arrived claiming to want to take the child to visit relatives.
“I think he took the child where he killed him, then phoned the child’s mother, telling her what he had done.
“Shezi returned alone after taking the child and pretended he had misplaced a SIM card, which he looked for and then left.
“Sfundo’s mother phoned her sister, informing her about Shezi’s phone call, and the child’s body was found.”
Zondi said when Shezi had arrived to fetch Sfundo he had been wearing a black jacket. However, when he returned for the SIM card he was not wearing it.
“The black jacket was found covering the child’s body,” he said.
Zondi said he was opposed to Shezi being released on bail as he knew all the State witnesses and there was a likelihood he would try to flee.
“There are Facebook messages he sent making threats, there’s a list there of people he will kill, including the deceased’s mother, his own mother, and his grandmother – he said they were next. He killed the child out of anger because the relationship situation was not good.
“He has no fixed address after his mom refused to take him.”
Zondi said Shezi’s mother had given him names and numbers of other relatives who could take him in if he was granted bail. However, they too refused to accept him.
“After the incident the community was angry; getting arrested saved him. The community is still angry, asking why he did not kill himself instead of his child. If he gets bail where will he go? I think if he gets bail there’s a likelihood of an attack. If he gets bail it’s like the court is letting him out to continue and kill the people on the list.
“Looking at the gravity of the offence he … may end his own life.”
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Daily News