Polokwane - A bail application by a University of Venda student, allegedly linked to four murders, rape, assault, and robbery at the campus and its outskirts, was postponed by the Thohoyandou Magistrate's Court on Thursday.
Ndivhuwo Ntsieni, a BSc Food Science and Technology student, appeared briefly and the application was postponed to next Friday after the Legal Aid lawyer representing him was not available to continue with the hearing.
Ntsieni, 24, faces 16 charges, including murder, attempted murder, rape, aggravated robbery, and kidnapping. He was arrested in July after allegedly being linked to killings in the area.
He has pleaded not guilty.
He allegedly killed two women and two children in separate incidents.
According to police, evidence indicated that the two women were attacked with a sharp instrument, and hit on the head. The girls were strangled.
University cleaner Brenda Ndove, 45, was stabbed to death on Friday, July 18 and her personal items stolen. Her body was found near the university's administration block.
A student, Shudufhadzo Thagisa, 20, was hospitalised after she was assaulted and robbed in May. She has since been discharged from hospital.
At the time of Ntsieni's arrest, he was allegedly found in possession of Thagisa's student identification card and cellphone.
Another woman, who was 22 years old, was raped and killed on university premises in March.
Nine-year-old Tshililo Ndou's body was dumped at a house in Golgotha in April.
Eight-year-old Zwivhuya Mashau's body was found outside the university by students and passers-by.
She too was raped before being killed.
The killings caused outrage in the community. The university has since vowed to improve security on the campus.
Sapa