The man accused of
kidnapping and murdering a two-year-old boy has made his first appearance in court.
Mzimhle Jikwana, 32, made a brief appearance at the Athlone Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
Prosecutors are set to prove Jikwana kidnapped little Oyingcwele Kofuka outside his home in Nkandla informal settlement in Philippi on 26 August.
Monday, Jikwana’s matter was postponed to 10 September for bail information, and to find out whether he has any pending cases or previous convictions.
Little Oyingcwele’s family could not attend court proceedings as they were travelling to the Eastern Cape to lay the child to rest today.
The child’s mother, Siphesihle Zokufa, told the Daily Voice she had interfered in an argument between her cousin and Jikwana after he apparently smashed up items inside the cousin’s home.
Jikwana was the cousin’s boyfriend.
The young mother said she thought Jikwana was making a joke and that he would return the child the next day.
Police launched a manhunt for Jikwana’s arrest and last week cops nabbed him in Strand.
He then tried to “negotiate” and led police to an area between shacks in Philippi.
However, he then claimed he could not remember where he had left the child.
On Thursday, Jikwana apparently showed cops where he had buried the child, and they found the little boy in a shallow grave along the N2, near the Mission Station in Philippi.
The cause of death is yet to be revealed.
Jikwana, who has three children of his own, lives in New Rest in Philippi.