A man accused of murdering an elderly woman and her two grandchildren last week before setting their house alight‚ appeared in the Willowvale Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
Police spokesman Captain Jackson Manatha said the man faced seven charges comprising three counts of murder‚ two of rape as well as one each of kidnapping and arson.
He was not asked to plead and his case was postponed to October 24 for a formal bail application.
Manatha said the man‚ 27‚ is not being named as he has not yet pleaded to the rape charges.
He is also accused of kidnapping and raping the family’s domestic worker. She escaped after the alleged rape.
The incident took place last Tuesday in Nqadu village‚ 5km from amaXhosa King Zwelonke Mpendulo Sigcawu’s Great Palace.
The suspect was cornered on Thursday by police in the nearby village of Ntlabane. — TMG Digital