Johannesburg – Ntokozo Khulekani Zikhali, the 28-year-old man accused of violating little 4-year-old Bokgabo Poo before murdering and dismembering her body, has abandoned attempts to get bail.
Brakpan resident Zikhali, abandoned his bail application at the Benoni Magistrate’s Court.
After his arrest, Zikhali would not be drawn to reveal where the child’s missing body parts were.
The shocking dastardly deeds came to light after a resident raised the alarm when she noticed a child’s limb partially buried in the ground in her garden.
Leah Khoza said she was watering her garden on a Tuesday morning when she saw what looked like a human limb on the ground.
Speculation was that the body parts were buried in Khoza’s garden because her humble dwelling is not fenced off.
When the police arrived, they were able to recover more body parts that were later positively identified as those of the missing 4-year-old girl.
The police managed to zero in on the suspect with the help of CCTV. The accused was filmed with Bokgabo before she was reported missing
At the time of his arrest, Zikhali was on bail for another matter in which he was accused of raping a nine-year-old girl.
During Zikhali’s previous appearance on 24 October 2022, the state informed the court of its intention to bring an application to the court to have Zikhali’s bail revoked on that matter.
“However, today the state informed the court that it will no longer bring the application since the accused will be remanded in custody since he abandoned his bail application,” explained Gauteng National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana on Monday.
RELATED: Man Accused Of Rape, Murder Of 4-year-Old Bokgabo Poo Unmasked – The Bulrushes
RELATED: WATCH: Man Accused Of The Murder Of 4-Year-Old Mokgabo Poo Back In Court – The Bulrushes
RELATED: Body Of 4-Year-Old Bokgabo Poo Identified, Suspect To Appear In Court – The Bulrushes
Zikhali has been charged with kidnapping, rape, murder, and violation of a corpse.
Narrating events leading to the murder of the 4-year-old, NPA Spokesperson Mahanjana said allegations are that on 10 October 2022, the little girl went to play with a 5-year-old boy at a nearby park in Wattville, Benoni.
It alleged that the children were approached by Zikhali, who is said to have given the 5-year-old boy money and sent him away to buy lollipops.
That is when the accused allegedly lured Bokgabo.
It was the last time the little girl was ever seen alive again.
“The next day in the morning, while a woman from the neighbourhood was sweeping her yard, she came across a human leg, she alerted a neighbour, and they contacted the police,” said Mahanjana.
As part of the investigation, CCTV footage from a nearby tavern was discovered, which shows Zikhali walking with the child on the day she went missing.
“The footage was circulated on social media, and when Zikhali discovered the existence of the footage, it is alleged that he fled to Boksburg,” said Mahanjana.
“He was arrested on 14 October 2022, at a petrol station, after a petrol attendant pointed him out to the police, who were at the filling station.”
Both matters in which Zikhali is an accused were adjourned to 14 February 2023, for further investigations.