Mfanafuthi Kunene, accused of the murder of 25-year-old Ayabonga Mjilo, made his first appearance at the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
Ayabonga Mjilo latest: Mfanafuthi Kunene abandons bail
The proceedings were brief, as Kunene informed the court he would not be applying for bail.
This decision allows prosecutors additional time to build a robust case against him.
Central to the prosecution’s strategy will be constructing a timeline of events leading up to Mjilo’s tragic death.
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Eyewitness photographs taken on Christmas Day—showing Kunene and Mjilo seated together at a table—are expected to play a pivotal role in piecing together what transpired that day.
The prosecution will also need to address pressing questions regarding motive. Was Mjilo’s murder premeditated, or was it the result of a heated confrontation?
How did investigators uncover the path that led them to Kunene’s backyard in Amaotana, where Mjilo’s body was found buried? These elements will be critical in determining the intent and circumstances behind the crime.
Observers at the court noted Kunene’s visibly bruised and swollen face, coupled with a pronounced limp as he exited the dock.
It is uncertain whether Kunene sustained these injuries at the hands of fellow inmates or correctional officials.
Regardless, this development is likely to feature in his defence strategy, with his LegalAid attorney expected to explore the possibility of using these incidents to argue for leniency in sentencing or detention conditions.
On Christmas Day, Mjilo failed to return home after her shift at a restaurant in Umhlanga. Her disappearance set off a frantic search, with her family reporting her missing later that evening.
Investigators soon traced her last known movements to her manager, 37-year-old Mfanafuthi Kunene.
Evidence suggests that Kunene lured Mjilo to his home in Amaotana, Inanda.
There, an altercation reportedly took place, during which Kunene is alleged to have strangled Mjilo to death. In an attempt to conceal the crime, he buried her body in his backyard, which authorities recovered on Saturday, 4 January 2025.
Kunene is expected back in court on 26 February 2025.
