The family of one of the accused in the Senzo Meyiwa murder case is in mourning after one of his sisters died in an apparent suicide. Nqobile Maphisa (27), who is the sister to accused number 3, Mthokozisi Maphisa, allegedly took her own life by taking rat poison on Wednesday morning.

Another one of Mthokozisi's sister, Sinqobile,has been vocal and speaking to the media claiming that her brother was not involved in Meyiwa's murder and that the five suspects were tortured behind bars. Mthokozisi's link to the footbal star's murder was not clear with the state saying he was not one of the intruders nor was he linked to the gun believed to have killed the Meyiwa. But during his testimony in January, lead investigator in the case Brigadier Bongani Gininda read his affidavit for his application for the warrant of Maphisa's arrest, where he said the accused was linked to the murder by means of confession he made to a private person, his close friend, about his involvement in this matter. Speaking to ZiMoja, Sinqobile dismissed allegations that Nqobile was poisoned to get through her as whistle-blower Patricia Mashale speculated earlier on yesterday morning. "We don't have all the details on what made her decide to kill herself and her unborn baby. Nqobile was seven months pregnant,and she seemed happy that she was going to become a mother herself but we know this has nothing to do with our brother or Senzo Meyiwa's case."

Sinqobile added that her sister did not leave a note behind stating reasons for her decision. She said that their family was broken by Nqobile's passing. "I really don't have words to explain the pain I am feeling at the moment. The pain hits straight to my heart because I never expected this from her. We were very close and we spoke about anything under the sun. What is more disturbing is that I'm currently in hiding after I received threats following me doing interviews with the media on my brother's wrongful arrest," she said. Sinqobile said that they will be transporting Nqobile's body back to KwaZulu Natal from Johannesburg for her burial.