Johannesburg – Siboniso Zitha, accused of killing his pastry chef girlfriend, Thembekile Letlape, abandoned his bail application at the Randburg Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said 40-year-old Zitha appeared in court to be served with a provisional charge sheet and to arrange a date for a bail application hearing, but he has abandoned the bail application.
Popular Johannesburg-based chef, Thembekile Letlape, owner of The Pastry Princess, was found dead at her boyfriend Zitha’s Douglasdale residence on Thursday, 30 May 2024.
NPA spokesperson in Gauteng, Phindi Mjonondwane said Zitha was initially charged with the murder of Letlape.
“Letlape’s family received a message from the deceased that she was assaulted by her boyfriend. They requested the police to accompany them to her residence,” Mjonondwane said.
“They arranged a locksmith and when they entered the premises they found the body of the deceased.
“The State has since charged Zitha with two outstanding counts of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm as well as a charge of malicious damage to property.
“These charges were laid by his ex-girlfriend in November 2022 and will be consolidated with the murder charge.”
Mjonondwane said the state would further pursue an additional charge of perjury against Zitha for allegedly lying to the court about having pending cases against him, in contravention of Section 60(11)(b) of the Criminal Procedure Act.
The accused was remanded in custody and the case was postponed to 19 August 2024 to allow for further investigations.
