Khanyisile Nkosi
Khanyisile Nkosi
Police have arrested a man believed to have been the leader of the Roto Gang that killed and mutilated one of their own members four years ago.
Nkosinathi Maponya, 26, from Tembisa, appeared in the Johannesburg high court yesterday for allegedly murdering fellow gang member Sicela Israel Mthembu on September 1 2004.
The Roto Gang was notorious for terrorising residents of Randburg and parts of Soweto before they were arrested for Mthembu's murder.
The state alleges that Maponya and his gang shot Mthembu in an area of veld in Randburg and then removed his internal organs and genitals.
The gang then allegedly dumped Mthembu's mutilated body in a street and his genitals, right lung and intestines under a bridge in Rockville in Soweto.
The state later successfully prosecuted gang members Paulos Mandlakayise Fakude, 34, Amos Roli, 41, Bongani Andrew Mtshali, 27, and David Bakaqane, 27, while two other gang members were acquitted.
Maponya, who was on the run when his alleged accomplices were tried, was not asked to plead to charges of murder and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition and he has been remanded in custody until August 6.
Gang suspect up for murder
Khanyisile Nkosi
Khanyisile Nkosi
Police have arrested a man believed to have been the leader of the Roto Gang that killed and mutilated one of their own members four years ago.
Nkosinathi Maponya, 26, from Tembisa, appeared in the Johannesburg high court yesterday for allegedly murdering fellow gang member Sicela Israel Mthembu on September 1 2004.
The Roto Gang was notorious for terrorising residents of Randburg and parts of Soweto before they were arrested for Mthembu's murder.
The state alleges that Maponya and his gang shot Mthembu in an area of veld in Randburg and then removed his internal organs and genitals.
The gang then allegedly dumped Mthembu's mutilated body in a street and his genitals, right lung and intestines under a bridge in Rockville in Soweto.
The state later successfully prosecuted gang members Paulos Mandlakayise Fakude, 34, Amos Roli, 41, Bongani Andrew Mtshali, 27, and David Bakaqane, 27, while two other gang members were acquitted.
Maponya, who was on the run when his alleged accomplices were tried, was not asked to plead to charges of murder and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition and he has been remanded in custody until August 6.