Durban — Nearly two years after a 30-year-old father allegedly beat and strangled his 8-year-old son, the trial for the little boy’s murder will be heard.
On Wednesday, a date was set in the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court for the trial against Siyabonga Innocent Shezi to be heard in November.
He is alleged to have beaten and strangled Sfundo Sibisi in the Shongweni area in January 2023, three months before the boy’s ninth birthday and a few days away from beginning Grade 3 at Umthala Primary School in KwaNdengezi.
He allegedly strangled the child with the drawstring of his shorts.
Shezi was arrested on the day of the alleged murder. At the time, he tendered a confession and had done a pointing out of the scene to police. At his court appearance, Shezi chose to abandon his bail application.
However, after his matter had been transferred from the district to the regional court, the trial court, and after a pre-trial conference, Shezi in a U-turn indicated that he wanted to exercise his right to apply for bail.
He was denied bail last month.
On Wednesday in court, State prosecutor Rowen Souls indicated the State would be calling five witnesses in the trial.
Shezi’s Legal Aid South Africa attorney, PM Dlamini, said the basis for the accused’s not-guilty defence was that the child fell and hit his head on a rock resulting in his death.
The child’s mother, Nonhlanhla Sibisi, had been at work on the day. Shezi allegedly phoned her telling her he had murdered their child.
Shezi allegedly told Sibisi to look for their son in the bushes in Shongweni before animals fed on his body.
Sibisi then phoned her family at Shongweni Dam asking them to go to the area and “indeed they found my boy’s lifeless body”.
Speaking outside court, Sibisi said she was elated a trial date was set.
“But what’s disappointing is his continuing to say my son fell on a rock and hit his head. This is a lie. What about the rope evidence (drawstring) and his other injuries?
“As his father, after his son fell and was hurt, what measures did he take to get him help? He is lying.
“Why did he take the child into the bush in the first place? He took him there where he knew he would be able to do whatever he wanted without being disturbed.
“I asked his sister if he ever said why he did what he did. She said Shezi told a friend of his he saw the child hurt and in pain after a beating, so he decided to put it out of its pain and strangled him.”
WhatsApp your views on this story to 071 485 7995.
Daily News