A mother's love shone bright when Jannette Maseko bought snacks and cigarettes for her son who is one of four suspects arrested for the murder of Mozambican Emmanuel "Sithole" Josias.
A subdued Maseko, accompanied by four relatives, was yesterday seen buying goodies from street vendors to take to her son, Sizwe Mngomezulu.
Mngomezulu and his three co-accused were appearing on charges of murder and robbery.
Earlier Maseko told Sowetan she could not leave her Alexandra home after learning that her son was arrested for allegedly taking part in Josias's brutal killing on April 18.
"This incident has taken its toll on me and my family. I nearly died when I heard that Sizwe was among the people arrested for this murder," she said.
She said Mngomezulu has "always been a good son to me. He provided for us. I couldn't imagine him doing what police said he did. I lost my appetite and did not eat for almost a week after his arrest. I became sick and bedridden".
Mngomezulu, 20, together with Sifundi Mzimela, 21, Ayanda Sibiya, 18, and Mthinto Bhengu, 22, yesterday told the Alexandra Magistrate's Court that they would not apply for bail as expected and chose to remain behind bars.
The images of the April 18 brutal attack on Josias were splashed in the Sunday Times.
The image show Bhengu holding a knife over Josias.
"The worst thing is that I did not have R250 to go to [a] doctor. I just sat at home and put my faith in God that He would pull me [out of] this tough time," said Maseko, a pensioner.
A relative had to travel from KwaZulu-Natal to look after her.
"She is fine now. We raised some money for her to go to the doctor at the weekend. She is eating and goes on [with] her life, even though it's difficult," said the woman who did not want to identify herself.
The images helped police to make speedy arrests.
The incident is believed to have been influenced by the xenophobic attacks that started in Durban and spread to Gauteng in the week prior to Josias's brutal death.
Several shops owned by foreign national were earlier looted in Alexandra a few hours before Josias met his death.
The men's lawyers, Vinesh Ramlakan (representing Bhengu and Sibiya) and Vhonani Matshidza (for Mzimela and Mngomezulu), said they needed more time to prepare their case as they had just received the docket, which included the newspaper photos of the attack.
Prosecutor Jacob Tloubatla said he was ready for trial but did not want to comment on whether journalists who captured the attack would be used as witnesses during the trial. The case was postponed to May 13 for the accused to plead.
Ramlakan told Sowetan he was going to consult with Bhengu " and hear if he did this killing. If he agrees then he will plead guilty". He said they "don't know what the roles of the . co-accused were".
"We don't see them doing anything in the pictures, but witnesses who were there when it happened will say what they did."
sifilel@sowetan.co.za
Josias 'killer' a 'good son'
A mother's love shone bright when Jannette Maseko bought snacks and cigarettes for her son who is one of four suspects arrested for the murder of Mozambican Emmanuel "Sithole" Josias.
A subdued Maseko, accompanied by four relatives, was yesterday seen buying goodies from street vendors to take to her son, Sizwe Mngomezulu.
Mngomezulu and his three co-accused were appearing on charges of murder and robbery.
Earlier Maseko told Sowetan she could not leave her Alexandra home after learning that her son was arrested for allegedly taking part in Josias's brutal killing on April 18.
"This incident has taken its toll on me and my family. I nearly died when I heard that Sizwe was among the people arrested for this murder," she said.
She said Mngomezulu has "always been a good son to me. He provided for us. I couldn't imagine him doing what police said he did. I lost my appetite and did not eat for almost a week after his arrest. I became sick and bedridden".
Mngomezulu, 20, together with Sifundi Mzimela, 21, Ayanda Sibiya, 18, and Mthinto Bhengu, 22, yesterday told the Alexandra Magistrate's Court that they would not apply for bail as expected and chose to remain behind bars.
The images of the April 18 brutal attack on Josias were splashed in the Sunday Times.
The image show Bhengu holding a knife over Josias.
"The worst thing is that I did not have R250 to go to [a] doctor. I just sat at home and put my faith in God that He would pull me [out of] this tough time," said Maseko, a pensioner.
A relative had to travel from KwaZulu-Natal to look after her.
"She is fine now. We raised some money for her to go to the doctor at the weekend. She is eating and goes on [with] her life, even though it's difficult," said the woman who did not want to identify herself.
The images helped police to make speedy arrests.
The incident is believed to have been influenced by the xenophobic attacks that started in Durban and spread to Gauteng in the week prior to Josias's brutal death.
Several shops owned by foreign national were earlier looted in Alexandra a few hours before Josias met his death.
The men's lawyers, Vinesh Ramlakan (representing Bhengu and Sibiya) and Vhonani Matshidza (for Mzimela and Mngomezulu), said they needed more time to prepare their case as they had just received the docket, which included the newspaper photos of the attack.
Prosecutor Jacob Tloubatla said he was ready for trial but did not want to comment on whether journalists who captured the attack would be used as witnesses during the trial. The case was postponed to May 13 for the accused to plead.
Ramlakan told Sowetan he was going to consult with Bhengu " and hear if he did this killing. If he agrees then he will plead guilty". He said they "don't know what the roles of the . co-accused were".
"We don't see them doing anything in the pictures, but witnesses who were there when it happened will say what they did."
sifilel@sowetan.co.za
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