Alleged killer of 4-year-old Bakgabo Poo to stay in jail until Feb

The man accused of being the killer of 4-year-old Bokgabo Poo is to spend Christmas and New Year in jail as his matter is postponed to February next year.

MAN ACCUSED OF KILLING TODDLER APPEARS IN COURT

Ntokozo Zikhali appeared before the Benoni Magistrates Court on Monday. The 30-year-old man faces charges of rape, murder, defeating the ends of justice and violating a body. This after he was tied to the mutilation, killing and rape of the young girl.

His defence team indicated they would abandon bail, meaning Zikhali will remain in custody until his next appearance. He will be appearing before the same court on 14 February 2023.

But at the time of the alleged kidnapping and murder of Poo, Zikhali had recently been out on bail for the rape of a 9-year-old girl.

This is the reason why the state did not apply for Zikhali’s bail to be revoked, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said. During Zikhali’s previous court appearance on 24 October, the state told the court it had intentions for the accused’s bail to be revoked,

“However, today [Monday] the state informed the court that it will no longer bring the application since the accused will be remanded in custody since he abandoned his bail application,” NPA regional spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said.

He is also expected to return to court for the rape case of the 9-year-old girl before appearing for Poo’s alleged murder.

ALSO READ: REVEALED: Missing 4-year-old Bokgabo Poo confirmed dead

POO BODY PARTS STILL MISSING

The little girl’s family had reported her missing on 10 October after she was last seen at a park in Wattville, Benoni. She was reportedly playing with a 5-year-old boy when they were approached by Zikhali, Mahanjana said.

“The accused allegedly gave the little boy money to go buy lollipops and lured the deceased to an unknown location.”

Lumka Mahanjana

But her tiny body was discovered mutilated in Tamboville. Poo was reportedly found by a woman who had been sweeping her yard when she noticed human legs protruding from the ground.

Zikhali was however arrested soon after he was allegedly caught on camera by a CCTV camera of a local tavern walking with Poo.

The footage circulated on social media and once Zikhali knew of its existence, he allegedly fled to Boksburg, said Mahanjana.

“He was arrested on 14 October 2022 at a petrol station after a petrol attendant pointed him out to the police, who were at a filling station,” she said.

Poo was only recently laid to rest. Her family held off the burial as the girl was found with missing body parts. The parts have still not been found.

There are reports in the community that the body parts were used for spiritual rituals. But such rumours were slammed by traditional healers in the community.

Speaking to eNCA on Monday outside court, the leader of traditional healers in the community Gogo Muntu Segage dispelled such allegations that they use body parts.

“On behalf of all traditional healers, as chair of the organization, we are more worried… We are not killers – we are healers. We want to know where the body parts [are] and who is working with them and what are they going to do with these body parts because the only thing I know is that it is herbs that heal anybody, not body parts. On behalf of the traditional healers’ organization, we are going to fight

Gogo Muntu Segage