As one man is to plead guilty to housebreaking in the murder case of Siphiwe Selby Nhlapo, another with vital information on the killing has vanished.
Phumlani Msimango chose not to go ahead with his bail application at the Protea Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.
His lawyer, advocate Patrick Makhubela, told The Star that after significant consultations, his client would be pleading guilty to the housebreaking that led to Nhlapo’s murder.
Msimango was not charged with the murder, as the police believe another man is responsible.
Nhlapo’s murder is just one of the cases being examined by a provincial police task team that is investigating the deaths of several gay men in Joburg and Pretoria.
The Star originally reported on the murders of eight gay men who died under similar circumstances. Most of the men were found strangled in their homes, after having allegedly invited in their killers. The killer or killers would then flee after taking little from each home.
Last week, the task team confirmed that of the eight murders, four of the cases had definitive suspects and were to continue being investigated by their respective investigating officers.
However, the other four were handed over to the task team, who are investigating possible links between the cases – including Nhlapo’s.
While Msimango was arrested last month, the team are still searching for his cousin, Nhlanhla Msimango.
Anyone with any information on the whereabouts of Nhlanhla Msimango is asked to contact Crime Line on 08600 10111 or Captain Happy Vilankulu of the provincial task team on 082 719 8373.