Central SA
Matjhabeng employee’s murder case postponed to September─── ZENANDE MPAME 10:57 Tue, 05 Aug 2025
The accused in the murder of an ANCYL member and Matjhabeng employee is set to appear in the Welkom Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 8 September, after the case was postponed to allow for legal representation.
Andile Sinyoko (42), said to be the boyfriend of Disebo Mosupa, was arrested after Mosupa’s body was exhumed by forensic investigators at a Welkom cemetery in July last year.
He is facing charges of murder and theft after the disappearance of Mosupa, who was an acting youth development officer at the municipality. She was reported missing by her father after he visited her home and found the doors open and the house ransacked.
Sinyoko’s friend Lawrence Ncanca (37) was also arrested and appeared in court for theft and murder.
“The matter has been postponed to Monday, 8 September, for the appointment of an attorney,” said Free State NPA spokesperson Mojalefa Senokoatsane. “The suspects were remanded in custody.”
Andile Sinyoko (42) and Lawrence Ncanca (37) appeared in the Welkom Magistrate's Court. Photo: SABC News/video screenshot
Mosupa was last seen on Friday, 12 July, last year, following a thorough search by her colleagues, the police, her family, and the community. Her buried body was discovered at the Thabong Cemetery in Welkom.
Meanwhile, the Free State department of social development has reaffirmed its commitment to tackling the escalating crisis of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) in the province.
In the province, during the 2023/24 period, a significant number of gender-based violence cases were reported. The police specifically reported 1,514 incidents of attempted murder against female victims and 14,401 incidents of assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm, where females were the victims.
Additionally, 1,135 women were murdered during the last three months of 2023.
The province committed itself to the six pillars of the national GBVF strategy: prevention, protection, response, care, and the transformation of societal norms. It also reinforced its commitment to building a coordinated and effective response to GBVF, ensuring justice and comprehensive support for all survivors.
A round table engagement was held by social development MEC Mathabo Leeto on Friday (1/8) in Kroonstad, with provincial leaders, departments, civil society organisations, and residents to address both GBVF and the growing issue of substance abuse.
