IPID to investigate death of Vlakfontein suspect

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) will investigate the circumstances surrounding Vlakfontein murder-accused, Ernest Vusi Mabaso‘s alleged suicide.

Mabaso was found hanging from shoe laces in a Cape Town holding cell last Friday. This while police were conducting further investigations relating to the death of the seven Khoza family members last November.

Mabaso and Fita Khupe have been applying for bail in the Protea Magistrate’s Court in Soweto.

At the start of proceedings, Mabaso, gave graphic detail of how he raped and killed some of the victims. He also implicated Khupe as being the mastermind.

“As the court can note, one isn’t before court. I cannot confirm allegations made in relation to his death as this moment. We cannot proceed further with this matter in absence of one,” says William Sekgatja of Mabaso’s defence.

During proceedings, Mabaso alerted the court that he feared for his life as he was allegedly being threatened by Khupe.

“The State will have to make use of evidence led. The fact that it is on record and was delivered during schedule 6 bail app won’t be sufficient to use that evidence to prosecute surviving accused have to make use of other circumstantial evidence to successfully prosecute. We heard that that deceased said he was coerced into …..The State will have to obtain evidence like cellphone records, anything that will contribute towards notion that two were the mastermind behind the gruesome murders,” says legal expert  Ulrich Roux.

The case has been postponed to Tuesday. With Mabaso dead, the truth surrounding the murdered Khoza family remains buried.

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