Bail denied for man accused of killing TUT student in Soweto
Yende is accused of murdering a geomatics student on 25 September 2026 at his parents' home in Rockville.
A 31-year-old man, Sizwe Nkululeko Yende, faces allegations of murdering Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) student Botshelo Mabua in Soweto. Yende is accused of the killing that occurred at his parents' home in Rockville on 25 September 2026. According to prosecutors, Yende and Mabua engaged in a verbal argument that turned violent.
The state alleges that Yende pushed Mabua, causing her to hit her head against a table corner, which then escalated into strangulation. Mabua was discovered lifeless on the floor, and emergency responders pronounced her death at the scene. During Yende's bail hearing, the prosecution argued that his account of events contradicted the post-mortem findings, which indicated that she had died from manual strangulation.
Despite Yende's claims that Mabua had fallen and hit her head against a chair, the court accepted the state's version of events and denied bail. The matter has been adjourned until 12 November 2026 for the Director of Public Prosecutions to determine whether the case should proceed in the Regional Court or be transferred to the High Court.
The TUT Geomatics Student Society expressed grief over Mabua's death, emphasizing that she was a promising student who would have graduated in 2027. The society vowed to stand against gender-based violence and support each other during this difficult time.
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