Durban - A 25-year-old man appeared in the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate's Court on Tuesday for the murder of a teenage beggar.
Altaaf Dawood, who lives in the CBD, has been charged with the murder of 17-year-old Fana Cebolethu Mkhize.
The state contends that Dawood was attending mosque in Church Street at around 7pm on Saturday, and was locking his car, which he parked on the roadside, when he was allegedly approached by Mkhize.
It was at this point that Dawood allegedly pulled out a gun and shot Mkhize twice, before running into the mosque.
Police were called to the scene and entered the mosque, where Dawood was arrested.
Mkhize, who was shot in the chest and leg, was declared dead on the scene.
Dawood told the court on Tuesday that he intended engaging the services of a private attorney.
The state indicated that it was opposed to Dawood being released on bail.
The case was adjourned to May 31 for a formal bail application.
Mkhize’s mother, Nonhlanhla, told the Daily News on Tuesday that she was devastated by her son’s death.
She explained that her son had run away from his family home in Ashdown in 2013 and was keeping the company of “bad friends”.
“I would often visit him at the places where he would beg, and bring him some clothes and food. He was not harming anyone, he was not stealing. I don’t know why my son was shot. I want justice for his murder,” she said.
Daily News