A man who is accused of raping and murdering his cousin in Cullinan, outside Pretoria, last month has abandoned his bail application. Chris Mthethwa (30) appeared at the Cullinan Magistrates Court yesterday on charges of rape and murder.

LURING HIS COUSIN

Gauteng National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said it is alleged that on 24 March 2024, Mthethwa arranged to meet with his cousin Owami Visagie (17), who was a grade 11 learner at Chipa-Tabane Secondary in Refilwe, Cullinan. Later that day at about 8pm, he went to fetch the deceased from her boyfriend's place and went with her to his empty employer's house where he was employed as a gardener, responsible for maintaining the yard and cutting grass. Mahanjana said that when they arrived, it is alleged that Mthethwa raped and killed the deceased. "Later that night at about 10pm, Mthethwa went to the deceased's home pretending to be looking for her. The following day on 25 March 2024, the mother of the deceased started looking for the deceased and went to the boyfriend's place to enquire about the whereabouts of the deceased. The boyfriend then informed them that the deceased left with Mthethwa," she said.

Owamie Visagie was allegedly murdered by her cousin

CASE POSTPONED

Mahanjana said that this when the mother of the deceased decided to go to the cops and opened a missing person docket. "The mother then opened a missing persons case at the police station and started looking for Mthethwa and went to the house where Mthethwa was a gardener and found the lifeless body of the deceased with her hands and feet tied with a cloth inserted on her mouth. "When Mthethwa heard that the community was looking for him, he handed himself over to the police. He was arrested and remanded in custody," she said. After he abandoned his bail application, the matter was postponed to 21 May 2024 for further investigations.