Alleged wife killer abandons bail bid

Published Dec 1, 2015

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Durban - A man who allegedly stabbed his wife to death at his home after a traditional cleansing ceremony two weeks ago in Clermont, abandoned his bail application in court on Monday.

The accused, Baxolele Majola, in his thirties, allegedly stabbed his wife Thulisile Lembede, 32, at his home after the pair had argued.

The couple’s respective 7- and 10-year-old children were in an adjacent room when the incident happened.

On Monday, family, friends and supporters of the #JusticeForThuli campaign - which has a group on Facebook - packed the street outside the Pinetown Regional Court as they called for the court to deny him bail.

Holding placards with messages that included “One time is more than enough, stop it now”, “killers must fall” and “break the silence” – the women marched around the court raising awareness of 16 Days of Activism with a bus emblazoned with Premier Senzo Mchunu’s face providing music and a platform for speeches.

Inside court, Lembede’s lawyer, who was only referred to as Mr Sithole, arrived several hours late and was scolded by Magistrate A Kisten, who said the accused had abandoned bail.

The victim’s family spokeswoman, Dolly Hadebe - a friend of 23 years of the deceased - said they were aware Lembede had been in a verbally abusive relationship, but only recently became aware of possible physical abuse when Majola reportedly beat her in public at an outing.

She said Lembede no longer lived with the accused and had been to the traditional cleansing ceremony after a death in Majola’s family weeks earlier.

“We are happy he is not coming back to the community and we will not give up until he gets what he deserves for what he has done,” she said.

Lembede’s former colleague, Dorette Cilliers, who worked with her at a law firm, described the deceased as a “calm and collected person”.

Gugu Madonsela, convener of the Women In Media KZN-SA action group, said they were happy the accused had abandoned bail.

“We want the abuse of women and children to stop. We want him to get (the maximum sentence),” she said.

The case will resume on January 27 and the accused will appear via audiovisual technology from Westville prison, the court heard.

Daily News

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