The Nelspruit Magistrates’ Court in Mpumalanga has denied bail to one of the accused in the murder case of 19-year-old Lusanda Mathabela.
Katlego Mokoena (19) is charged alongside with his co-accused, Lungelo Sithole (19), in connection with the murder of Mathabela, who was allegedly stabbed multiple times at her home in Mataffin, outside Mbombela, in November 2025.
Mpumalanga National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Spokesperson Monica Nyuswa said Sithole and Mokoena applied for bail on separate occasions.
Sithole’s bail application was dismissed by the same court last month.
“It is alleged that on the day of the incident, the accused hired an Uber driver to transport them to the victim’s residence, where they allegedly gained entry by jumping over the wall. The accused were allegedly found at the crime scene, and the victim’s lifeless body was discovered in a pool of blood in the bathroom,” she said.
Nyuswa said in handing down the judgment, the court considered the serious nature of the charge and the significant public interest generated within the community where the crime was committed.
“The court found that releasing the accused on bail pending trial would likely disturb public order and undermine peace and security. It further concluded that granting bail would undermine confidence in the criminal justice system and the proper administration of justice,” she said.