A 30-year-old man accused of the heinous rape and murder of Constable Asavela Mathe appeared in the Bluedowns Magistrate’s Court in Cape Town today. The accused Mpumzi Nompetsheni briefly appeared before the court and will be remanded in custody until his bail application hearing on 12 October.
The tragic incident unfolded on Sunday, 1 October, when Constable Mathe was brutally raped and murdered in the Malgas informal settlement in Mfuleni. Her lifeless body was discovered on the streets, unclothed, sending shockwaves through the community.
After a thorough investigation, the police found compelling evidence that led to the arrest of Mpumzi Nompetsheni. Important pieces of evidence, including the officer’s clothing, including undergarments, were discovered inside the suspect’s residence. Additionally, visible marks at Nompetsheni’s shack indicated that the victim was forcibly dragged from the murder scene.
Following the suspect’s apprehension, local residents,mainly women, demolished the accused’s shack. Their action signifies their strong stance against having the suspect in their community, even if he were to be released on bail.
Constable Mathe had visited the area accompanying a friend who was visiting a cousin. The untimely demise of Constable Mathe has left the community in mourning and has sparked outrage among residents.
Minister of police Bheki Cele and his deputy Cassel Mathale visited the Constable’s home to convey their condolences. Mathe was attached at Samora Machel SAPS at the time of her untimely death.
