No bail – asked or granted – for man accused of Sandisiwe Mona’s murder
The community breathed a sigh of relief when the man accused of murdering a Plettenberg Bay teenager abandoned his bail bid on Friday – YOLANDE STANDER reports
The man accused of murdering Sandisiwe Mona, 56-year-old Motseki Palasi, appeared in the Plettenberg Bay Magistrate’s Court on Friday to apply for bail, but indicated that he would no longer continue with the process – this while a group of residents marched from Kwa-Nokuthula to the court building, where they met up with children’s rights activists, in an attempt to see bail denied in the matter.
A petition against his release, which garnered more than 7,200 signatures, was also handed to the investigating officer in the matter.
Palasi was arrested last month after the remains of the 17-year-old KwaNokuthula resident was discovered in Ladywood in August.
Sandisiwe went missing between 6 am on April 8 and 2 pm on April 13. Police said initial information revealed that her grandmother left her at their home in KwaNokuthula while she attended a funeral. On her return, she discovered that the girl had gone missing.
A search party was established by the KwaNokuthula police but eventually called off after no positive outcome. Her remains were found on August 5 by a passer-by walking his dog in Ladywood. DNA confirmed her identity.
According to police, Palasi was the last person seen with the girl before she was murdered. He also voluntarily pointed out the crime scene.
The matter was postponed until October 18 and the accused was remanded in custody.