Johannesburg - It has been almost 11 months since former Wits University employee Rachel Dolly Tshabalala died, allegedly at the hands of boyfriend and radio presenter Donald Sebolai.
Tshabalala’s mom, Nkele Marawa, arrived at the High Court in Palm Ridge on Monday, dressed in her Anglican Church uniform - a black skirt, black hat and white jacket - hoping to get details of how her daughter was murdered.
But in the end she was disappointed. The trial, which was expected to have started on Monday and run until May 29, was postponed again.
Sitting behind Sebolai, Marawa shook her head several times when Acting Judge Delize Smith explained the reasons for postponing the case to July 27.
The judge warned the defence counsel, Thabang Mathopo - who asked for the postponement because of another trial he is attending to in the high court - that on Monday was the last time.
Mathopo told the court that his team were ready to proceed and promised that there would be no further delay.
Marawa felt this was yet another “unnecessary delay”.
Speaking outside the court, Tshabalala’s mother said the situation was affecting her health.
“I am sick as we speak. They should finish with this (case) because they are delaying us. Today I thought I would hear at last what happened to my daughter. All I want is the truth,” she said.
Angry neighbours, friends and relatives who had arrived at the court have nicknamed the DJ “danger zone”.
A neighbour who asked not be named said: “He walks around freely near Dolly’s home going to taverns… it shows that he is not embarrassed,” the woman told the media.
Sebolai is facing charges of murder, kidnapping and defeating the administration of justice.
The DJ spent seven months behind bars after he was denied bail following his arrest in July.
In January, Sebolai was granted R10 000 bail.
The State alleges that Sebolai and the deceased had an argument, during which the accused stabbed Tshabalala with a knife.
It is alleged that Sebolai then cleaned the floor, threw bloodied clothing in the outside dustbin, packed his belongings and the knife with which he is alleged to have stabbed Tshabalala in her car, and fled the scene.
Tshabalala died from a wound in the right thigh that led to severe blood loss and hypovolemic shock (a life-threatening condition that results when you lose more than 20 percent or one-fifth of your body’s blood or fluid supply).
The Star