Vuyiswa Leeuw’s case was postponed to Thursday, 30 April, due to outstanding information relevant to the case. She faces charges of kidnapping and murder of a family member’s five-year-old.

Her bail application was rejected in December after the state argued Onkarabetse Leeuw’s murder was planned and carried out in revenge. Onkarabetse’s mother, Rethabile, 20, a cousin of Leeuw, reported her son missing at the Glen police station in November. 

After an extensive search, his body was found four days later under a cardboard box in dense vegetation on the southern outskirts of the settlement. Leeuw allegedly kidnapped and murdered Onkarabetse because Katleho, 3, (Leeuw’s daughter) was allegedly kidnapped and murdered by a close family member of Onkarabetse.

“The case of Vuyiswa Leeuw was postponed to 30 April as there is still outstanding relevant evidence that is important to the state's case,” said Free State NPA spokesperson Mojalefa Senokoatsane. “The accused is pregnant, and the matter had to be given a further date in view.”

OFM News reported in December the defence argued that Leeuw’s six-month pregnancy was a high risk, and she wasn’t getting proper medical attention in custody; this was disputed by the state.

Leeuw’s daughter, Katleho, was reported missing in October. A passer-by found her body two days later in dense vegetation near the settlement north of Bloemfontein. The murder accused in Katleho’s case was sent for a 30-day psychiatric evaluation at the Free State Psychiatric Hospital on 5 February, but he couldn’t be admitted due to a shortage of beds.

Agriculture and rural development MEC Elzabe Rockman and community safety, roads and transport MEC Jabu Mbalula convened a meeting at Glen Village to address the murder of the children in November.

Both departments stressed the importance of fostering a community that cared for each other, treating everyone as family and human beings. They emphasised the need to protect all children as if they were their own, in order to prevent such tragic events from recurring.

• Have a news tip to share? Phone or whatsapp the OFM News Hotline: 066 487 1427.

OFM News/Zenande Mpame sm