The man accused of murdering Philippi resident Nomvuzo Atoli has confessed to killing her.
Sive Mpafa, 29, appeared briefly in the Athlone Magistrates' Court on Friday.
He admitted that he repeatedly hit the young woman on her head with a brick, the prosecution told the court.
Mpafa was recently released from jail on another murder charge which was provisionally withdrawn due to the death of a witness.
He was nabbed last Sunday in a hideout in Idutywa in the Eastern Cape.
Dressed in a blue overall top, grey hoodie, jeans and red sneakers, Mpafa abandoned bail shortly after he confessed to having murdered Atoli, reports the Weekend Argus.
The court heard that he followed the 22-year-old from where she was hanging out with her friends in the Siyanyanzela informal settlement in Philippi.
The matter was postponed to 3 November.
According to investigating officer Warren Fredericks, Mpafa has a history of violent crimes: “He has two other pending murder cases which also include one where he (allegedly) killed his girlfriend and another one where he (allegedly) stabbed a man to death. He also has robbery, car theft, drunk-driving and housebreaking cases pending.”
Nomvuso's body was found at a dump site in the Siyanyanzela informal settlement on 13 August and her cousin Siphokazi Atoli said they want justice: “As a family we believe that the death penalty should be reinstated for matters of this nature.”
Nomvuso was laid to rest in Cala, Eastern Cape on Saturday.