Tshegofatso Pule: Case postponed to 2 July, NPA confirms

The case against Muzikayise Malephane — the man accused of murdering 28-year-old Tshegofatso Pule — has been postponed until 2 July in order for him to find legal representation. 

TSHEGOFATSO PULE COURT CASE POSTPONED 

NPA spokesperson Pindi Mjonondwane said the accused was not present in court on Wednesday 24 June as per arrangement and agreement by all parties, including the presiding officer.

The agreement was that Wednesday’s court proceedings would be conducted through an audiovisual remand system as the matter was sat down for a postponement. 

“The arrangement is in line with COVID-19 directions to limit the movement of offenders and awaiting trial detainees from various correctional facilities to courts,” said Mjonondwane. 

The Tshegofatso Pule court case will resume on Thursday 2 July once Malephane has obtained legal representation. 

MUZIKAYISE MALEPHANE ARRESTED 

On Wednesday 17 June, police confirmed that a 31-year-old man had been arrested while travelling from Mpumalanga to Gauteng, and would appear before the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court for the murder of Tshegofatso Pule.

Police spokesperson Colonel Noxolo Kweza confirmed that the suspect had been arrested two days prior on Monday 15 June but due to the sensitivity of the case, police held back on making the information public. 

Kweza thanked both SAPS detectives and community members for their hard work which ultimately resulted in the suspect’s arrest, saying:

“We can thank the cooperation from the community which led to the breakthrough.”

TSHEGOFATSO PULE FOUND HANGING FROM A TREE, EIGHT MONTHS PREGNANT 

Amongst a string of gender-based violence incidents in the month of June, 28-year-old Tshegofatso Pule was murdered and hung from a tree in Roodeport. 

Pule, eight months pregnant at the time of her death, was also found with multiple stab wounds in her chest. Tshegofatso Pule was last seen at the West Lake Complex near Florida. She left her home wearing gym clothes, a black cap and Nike sneakers.

Pule was laid to rest during a heart-wrenching funeral service in Soweto on Thursday 11 June. Although lockdown regulations allowed for just 50 people, the entire community mourned her death. 

According to a report by the Sunday Times, the father of Pule’s unborn child, Ntuthuko Shoba admitted to being involved in a love triangle. Video footage showing Pule getting into Shoba’s grey Jeep on the night of her disappearance raised some suspicion. Shoba was questioned by police and was later released.