Luyanda Botha, the man who stands accused of the brutal murder and rape of 19-year-old University of Cape Town student Uyinene Mrwetyana, revealed more chilling details about the teen’s death when he appeared in court today.
Botha reportedly left her body in a safe within the Clareinch Post Office – where he was an employee – before transporting Mrwetyana to Lingelethu West, where he set her body alight.
According to the State, Mrwetyana had made her way to the Clareinch Post Office on August 8 to enquire about the delivery of an online clothing purchase she was waiting to receive. While there, she and Botha had exchanged contact details so that he could keep her informed on when the package arrived.
Her package arrived on August 16.
Mrwetyana made her way back to the Post Office on August 24 after it had been closed for business. Botha was alone and let her in. Thereafter, the 19-year-old was reported missing.
The prosecution believes that she was raped twice by Botha then bludgeoned to death with a scale. Mrwetyana’s cause of death is a fatal head injury.
Botha is accused of hiding Mwretyana’s body inside the safe of the Post Office and returning to move her to his car for transportation.
Her remains were discovered by police on a routine patrol in the early hours of Monday, August 26. Botha was apprehended four days later, and traces of Mrwetyana’s blood was discovered on the Post Office floor as well as his shoes.
Botha also faces charges of defeating the ends of justice as he had his car cleaned to destroy forensic evidence.
His case has been shifted from the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court to the Western Cape High Court, where he will attend his first pre-trial conference on November 15.