Publications
Partners
A man accused of killing and mutilating his sister and nephew over R20 has abandoned his bid for bail.
Sisipho Pita, 25, appeared in the Tembisa Magistrates Court in Ekurhuleni on Wednesday.
Pita, who walked barefoot into the court wearing a purple jersey and grey pants, did not look at the packed gallery where his relatives and neighbours were sitting.
Magistrate Amanda Ludick postponed the case to November 28.
Pita allegedly killed his sister Fundiswa Pita, 28, and her 13-month-old son Lwasanga on Monday morning in a rented back room in Tembisa which they shared.
According to relatives, he was found sitting next to the bodies while a knife he used in the attack was lying at his feet.
Fundiswa's bloodied body was found on the floor while the toddler's body was found on the bed.
Her throat had been slit, and her left eye and an index finger were missing.
Lwasanga's penis was also missing.
Fundiswa's other child, Bayanda, 10, was at school at the time of the attack.
Police spokesperson Captain Nelsah Sekgobela said the suspect confessed to the Tembisa police that he killed his sibling and nephew after they had fought over R20.
He then gave the police his sister's index finger which he had hidden in his buttocks.
He, however, claimed that his sister's eye and his nephew's penis were eaten by rats after he threw them through the window.
His uncle Nkosinathi Pita said the incident had shocked the family.
"We are caught between a rock and a hard place. On the other hand I want the law to take its course and again I want him to obtain bail and tell me why he did what he did."
13-month-old Lwasanga who was killed and mutilated by Fundiswa's younger brother Sisipho in Tembisa. (Supplied)
He described his nephew as a quiet, intelligent and respectable man.
"I don't know why he did that. I raised them together as my own children following their father's death. I'm asking myself what went into his mind. To date I can't believe what happened. He owes me answers."
Fundiswa was the family's breadwinner and was looking after her unemployed mother and her two children as well as her brother.
According to Nkosinathi, Sisipho's mother Nokulunga was away visiting a friend when the incident happened.
"After killing them, he called his mother and told her that he had killed her daughter," he said.
The uncle claimed that Sisipho had a history of mental problems.
He also said he had pleaded for financial assistance from a good samaritan to bury the deceased back home in Matatiele, Eastern Cape.
Sisipho's cousin Jeniffer Pita said she hoped that he would remain in custody because she feared him.
"I don't want him near us. He is dangerous and we don't know who is next. He must stay in jail. I'm scared that should he be released he will attack us as well," she said.
A family friend and neighbour, Nthabiseng Mdluli, said the incident had shocked them and said she was battling to sleep.
Mdluli said the community was angry and things would get out of hand should Sisipho be granted bail.
"People in our street are angry. They don't want to see him again. He has caused pain and agony in his family. Fundiswa's daughter can't attend school because she can't cope with her mother's death. I demand justice," Mdluli said.
KEEP UPDATED on the latest news by subscribing to our FREE newsletter.
- FOLLOW News24 on Twitter
