Benoni – Twenty-eight-year-old Ntokozo Khulekani Zikhali – the man Ntokozo Khulekani Zikhali – the 28-year-old man accused of kidnapping, raping, murdering, and dismembering little 4-year-old Bokgabo Poo, on Monday appeared in the Benoni Magistrate’s Court, Ekurhuleni.
During the court proceeding, the father of the dead girl, Irvin Ndlovu, lost control and lunged at the suspect before he was restrained by police officers.
Zikhali, from Brakpan, has been charged with kidnapping, rape, murder, and violation of the corpse of the 4-year-old girl.
The accused, whose age was initialy reported as 30 – made a brief appearance, was allegedly captured on CCTV – from a nearby pub – with the little girl.
The matter was postponed and the accused was remanded in custody to 24 October 2022.
Investigations reveal that last week on Monday, (10 October 2022), little Bokgabo was playing with a 5-year-old boy at a park in Wattville, Benoni, when they were allegedly approached by Zikhali.
Narrating events uncovered by investigations, Lumka Mahanjana NPA Gauteng Spokesperson said: “The accused gave the little boy money to go buy lollipops and lured the little girl to an unknown location”.
Later, on the same day, the parents of the deceased reported the child missing to the police.
“The next day in the morning, while a woman from the neighbourhood was sweeping her yard, she came across a human leg, she alerted a neighbour, and they contacted the police,” said Mahanjana.
“As part of the investigation, CCTV footage from a nearby tavern was discovered, which showed the deceased walking with Zikhali, on the day of her disappearance.”
The footage was circulated on social media, and when Zikhali discovered the existence of the footage, it is alleged that he fled to Boksburg.
Zikhali was arrested on 14 October 2022, at a fuel station after an alert attendant pointed the suspect out to police officers who were nearby.
It has since emerged that Zikhali was out on bail on another matter, in which he is facing a charge of raping a 9-year-old girl.
For this matter, the accused will appear in Carletonville Magistrates’ Court on 4 November 2022.
