Thabo Nzimande, 32, is on trial in Durban, South Africa, accused of stabbing his loyal grandmother Beatrice de Lange before cutting off her head in a barbaric attack
A man accused of beheading his own grandmother before using her head as a football told his aunt the harrowing reason why after allegedly taking her life, a court has heard.
Thabo Nzimande allegedly murdered his relative in June 2024. He is on trial charged with the murder of Beatrice de Lange in Pinetown, South Africa, last year. The 32-year-old reportedly stabbed the woman ‘many times’ before decapitating her, jurors in Durban have been told.
He then kicked her head around like a football, it is claimed. He was arrested with bloodstained clothes a day after the 80-year-old was found slaughtered in her home. The case has faced delays after a Legal Aid attorney representing the suspect parted ways with his client.
Patrick Mkhumbuzi told high court judge Phumi Sibisi the state wouldn’t accept the plea put forward by the defence. Now the trial has begun and Ziningi Myaka, the daughter of the murdered pensioner, spoke about the events which led to her mother’s death.
Chillingly, she said: “We asked him why he did this. He shouted, ‘I had to do it’. Mrs Myaka went on: “My mother wanted to look after him all the time because she was not working. She also felt it would not have been easy for me to look after my nephew because I was not there 24/7.”
She described her nephew as someone who did not like to be reprimanded and after visiting him in a rehabiliation centre for a counselling session the court heard how the accused became angered and confronted her, yelling: “you crazy old b****”.
The tragic grandmother bought her grandson clothes and paid his school fees. She was a constant source of support, the family explained, and the pair had argued over an inconclusive drug test result. Nzimande suffer from hallucinations, memory loss or hearing the voices of his ancestors, but had been treated for psychosis.
Taking the stand, Mrs Myaka added: “I had given Nzimande the benefit of the doubt without thinking it could be my mother’s cry for help. I wanted to give my mother a break. I also had errands for him, which would include painting at the house. When he was with me, my sister phoned to speak to him about the alleged incident with granny.”
Under cross-examination, she was asked why she had submitted a second statement to police about the incident three months later. Responding, the woman said: “When you have such a tragic incident you only realise some of the things at a later stage when you try to make sense of the events.
“Sometimes you go back and look at the calendar and connect the events. I sometimes ask myself how I failed my mother. I wanted him to have a great future. He told me there was a girl he liked and I volunteered to pay lobola if he wanted a future with her.”
During an earlier court appearance, Nzimande told the court he wanted to plead guilty to the murder. The trial, which was started on Monday, was adjourned to last week for Nzimande to consult further with Mkhumbuzi. He informed the judge he needed to take instructions from his suspect.
On his return he said: “My client has also given me conflicting instructions and as a result I won’t continue representing him.” The trial continues.