Two men in court after murder for umuthi

Gruesome details of the beheading of a KwaZulu-Natal murder victim allegedly for umuthi purposes have emerged in the Pietermaritzburg High Court.

Two men, Thandowakhe Duma and Elias Sihle Mchunu are on trial before Judge Rishi Seegobin in connection with six charges including two of murder in which the victims — a woman, Bawinile Gambushe, and a man, Nawaaz Khan were allegedly killed on separate occasions for their body parts.

In both instances the victims were beheaded and some body parts removed.

The other charges against the two men include robbery with aggravating circumstances, kidnapping and assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

According to the state’s prosecution, one alleged victim, Dane Ramparthab, who was kidnapped in 2015 managed to escape from his assailants.

However Duma and Mchunu have pleaded not guilty to all charges.

On Thursday, former security guard Mveliso Erick Ngidi, who used to guard the courts at Scottburgh and Umzinto at the time of the incidents admitted on behalf of the state that he had participated in the beheading of one victim, Gambushe.

The case is proceeding.