‘I saw them. I believe they killed Sinoxolo’

A State witness said in a statement that he saw the two accused the night Khayelitsha teen Sinoxolo Mafevuka was raped and killed.

Cape Town - A State witness in the trial of two men charged with the rape and murder of 19-year-old Sinoxolo Mafevuka said he heard screams and saw the two accused dragging a female towards the toilet, where Sinoxolo’s body was found the next day.

 The statement of the witness, who is an SST block resident in Khayelitsha, was read out in the Khayelitsha Magistrate’s Court by investigating officer Butiki Tshabalala during the bail application of the two men.

The court has ordered that the identity of the two men may not be made public.

In the statement, the witness said he was on his way to a local petrol station from a tavern at about 12.30am on March 2, 2016 when he saw two men dragging an “African female”.

The witness said he was in shock after hearing a scream coming from the toilets side of the area, and he hid between the shacks because he did not want the accused to see him.

He said he knew both accused and that accused number two was wearing sunglasses and a blue jacket with a hoodie that morning.

He said the street lights were on when he saw accused two putting his hands over the victim’s face, while accused one pulled her by her arms.

The witness, who was not named, said he continued walking to the petrol station and was informed of Mafevuka’s murder that morning.

“I had a clear view of what happened. There was a (street) light close by. I know the accused from the area, I know where they stay. I know accused one through his cousin and know accused two through a friend.

“I believe it was the accused who killed Sinoxolo and I am willing to testify,” the witness wrote in his statement.

 The matter was postponed to Thursday.

Cape Times