Two to appear for nun murder

File photo

File photo

Published Jul 2, 2014

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Johannesburg - Two men accused of murdering an 82-year-old Roman Catholic nun did not appear as scheduled in the Mthatha Magistrate's Court on Wednesday, Eastern Cape police said.

Asiphe Ndikinda, 26, and Masixoli Mdlebe, 21, would instead apply for bail on Friday, Lt-Col Mzukisi Fatyela said.

Ndikinda and Mdlebe allegedly hijacked and kidnapped Sister Mary Paule Tacke in Mthatha on June 15.

Following the crime, people who worked with her saw her car in Mthatha and followed it. The police were called and during the ensuing chase the car overturned. Two occupants ran away.

Tacke's body was found in Nangeni, in a small stream in the veld, on June 16.

Ndikinda was arrested in Mthatha on June 19, while Mdlebe was caught in the Ngcwanguba area on the morning of June 20.

Ndikinda previously appeared in court on June 20, and Mdlebe on June 23.

According to the Lewiston Tribune Online, Tacke was kidnapped outside the Thembelihle orphanage, which she founded to help children aged eight to 16.

She was born in Cottonwood, Idaho, US, on March 17, 1932. After coming to South Africa she began her missionary work at the Mariazell mission near Matatiele.

In 1955 she founded Bethany Place of Safety in Mthatha, a home for abandoned children from newborn to age six. She was its director from 1955 to 2007.

Sapa

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