Ntuthuko Mbhense and Sboniso Myeza had their matter adjourned for further investigation on Tuesday in the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court. The are charged with kidnapping, extortion, robbery with aggravating circumstances and sexual assault where the victim was allegedly lured through a Facebook advert for employment.
Durban — It was likely that the kidnapping, extortion, robbery with aggravating circumstances and sexual assault cases against two men would be joined and heard as one with other similar matters they were charged with.
This emerged on Tuesday in the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court, where Ntuthuko Mbhense and his co-accused, Sboniso Myeza, appeared.
They are alleged to have committed the offence in 2020 in Mariannhill where it was alleged the victim had responded to an advert on Facebook for a nanny job.
She was allegedly fetched in a car by three men, including Mbhense, under the pretext they were taking her for an interview for the advertised employment.
Further, it’s alleged that the woman was tied up and bound and held for a ransom that was demanded from her family.
The victim was allegedly kept tied up in the bush for one night and one accused allegedly raped her. She was reportedly taken to a house in Mariannhill, where she was forcefully given drugs and allegedly raped again. Her family paid R2 000 ransom.
“The docket is with the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) and they indicated that the matter be adjourned for further investigation. There’s a possibility it will be joined with other matters the accused face in the regional court. There could also possibly be a pointing out in this matter,” said the State.
Mbhense was arrested for this case while in the dock for a similar case where he is charged with kidnapping, extortion, robbery with aggravating circumstances and sexual assault. He had been out on R3 000 bail when he was arrested after being pointed out by the victim while in the dock.
Mbhense and Myeza are to appear together in court on Thursday for the above matter in Regional Court 3 (RC3).
Mbhense was previously refused bail, while Myeza abandoned his bid.
Two weeks ago Myeza was in court alongside his co-accused, his 18-year-old girlfriend, charged with kidnapping and robbery, where it’s alleged that last year in October the accused assaulted a woman and using force and violence took her bank card, Sassa card, a cellphone and R2 000, in Mariannhill.
At that time in court, it emerged that the matter had been linked to a murder case in KwaMashu that was still being investigated.
Myeza and his girlfriend, who both remain in custody, as he abandoned his bail while she was refused bail, are expected to appear in the regional court on Thursday after the matter was adjourned for a decision from the DPP.
Daily News