Riot Hlatshwayo

Riot Hlatshwayo

A third-year student at the Vaal University of Technology accused of murdering his former girlfriend the day after Christmas was granted bail on Wednesday.

Mandla Mathebula, 24, allegedly mutilated the woman's body before burying her in a makeshift grave at the home of his policeman brother.

He was granted bail in the packed Mhala magistrates' court. He has not been asked to plead to charges of murder with aggravating circumstances.

Magistrate Sam Nkuna granted Mathebula R3500 bail pending his next court appearance on May 11.

Mathebula is accused of beating Advice Mashaba to death at Songeni village, near Thulamahashe, Mpumalanga, in the early hours of December 26.

Mathebula allegedly carried her body to his home and the next night buried her at the home of his brother, police Inspector Richard Mathebula.

Mashaba's disappearance was reported to the Mhala police and Mathebula was arrested. But he was released 16 hours later.

Mashaba's father, Edworks Mashaba, told Sowetan of the release of the man he believes to be his daughter's murderer. Sowetan asked the police why he had been freed and four days later he was rearrested.

But Mathebula was again released, this time by the Mhala magistrate. He was rearrested an hour later when Mashaba's body was found in Inspector Mathebula's garden.

The lips, breasts and eyes had been removed from the corpse.