Man released as two women face charges in Dawn Park murder - IOL

Tsakane Nester Msithini (R) and Fortunate Masilela (L) in the dock following the brutal murder of Jabulile Ntimba, whose body was dumped in Villa Lisa, near Dawn Park.

IN A shocking twist in one of the Gauteng murders, police have confirmed that the man arrested alongside two women in connection with the murder of Dawn Park victim Jabulile Ntimba has not been charged.

Ntimba is the ninth woman to be found dead in a string of killings that has sent shockwaves through communities across Ekurhuleni.

Her body was discovered by a passer-by in an open area on Lama Street in Villa Lisa on 17 September. She had been severely assaulted, and her throat had been slit.

Fortunate Masilela and Tsakane Nester Msithini made a first appearance in the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

But the man who was taken in for questioning has since been released.

Masilela and Msithini face charges of premeditated murder and defeating the ends of justice.

The duo have been remanded in custody and are expected to apply for bail on 1 October.

As they face a Schedule 6 offence, the accused will have to provide the court with exceptional circumstances that they should be released on bail.

In court on Monday, the magistrate ruled that only audio recordings of the court proceedings would be permitted.

No photographs or video footage of the accused or presiding officers would be allowed.

Inside court, family members of the accused were seen handing them newspapers to cover their faces after the ruling.

Police have alleged that Ntimba’s murder may have stemmed from a love triangle.

Deputy National Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Tebello Mosikili confirmed that the third suspect had not been enrolled in the case.

Mosikili explained that the third suspect was still being investigated and that police were following up on possible links to the murder.