Africa-Press – South-Africa. A Gauteng woman who allegedly sold her newborn child to “unknown people”, then killed a woman and stole her infant son, is set to undergo psychiatric evaluation.
On Monday, the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg ordered that Nelisiwe Thwala be referred to Sterkfontein Psychiatric Hospital on 24 April.
Thwala, who made a brief court appearance, was arrested last year after three years on the run.
Her mother supported her in court on Monday.
It is alleged that the 29-year-old fell pregnant and, after giving birth, sold her child.
Once her family found out, they kicked her out and told her she could only return if she came back with the child she had sold.
The charges stated that she and her boyfriend, and alleged co-perpetrator Xolani Mkhize, lived in an outside room in Zola North, Soweto.
Thobane Khanyile, Mkhize’s uncle, also lived in the neighbourhood with his wife, Nonhlakanipho Lukhozi, and their three-month-old son.
On 10 June 2019, Lukhozi was killed at her home, allegedly by Thwala and Mkhize. The two have been accused of taking the child after putting Lukhozi’s body in a wheelie bin and dumping her body in a nearby field.
The charges read:
“Thereafter, the accused (Thwala) and her co-perpetrator (Mkhize) proceeded to the accused’s parental home at Tshepisong with the deceased’s minor child… and introduced the deceased’s child as the accused’s child [who] had been previously sold by the accused to unknown persons.”
Thwala has been charged with murder, kidnapping, defeating the ends of justice, and human trafficking.
Mkhize was convicted and received two life sentences.
Thwala’s trial was postponed to 20 April.
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