Vanderbijlpark – Dark arts dabbling 50-year-old sangoma, Sebokoana Khounyana, accused of premeditated murder and human trafficking of baby Kutlwano Shalaba has appeared in the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court, Gauteng.
The Lesotho national is jointly accused with 32-year-old Kuneuwe Portia Shalaba, the mother of the murdered two-year-old baby.
Narrating events leading to the arrests and appearance in court of the two accused, National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Gauteng Spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said the crimes were conceived late last year.
“It is alleged that on 10 November 2024, the mother of the child took the child to the sangoma and requested him to kill her child because she was not happy with the gender of the baby and was tired of hiding it from her family that in fact, the child was a girl,” the NPA spokesperson said.
“The mother then allegedly fed the baby poison, and after the baby died, it is alleged that the two took the child and buried her body in a shallow grave in Waterpan [Westonaria, West Rand District Municipality, Gauteng].”
Investigations also revealed that R75 000 was deposited into Shalaba’s bank account the same day she reported her child missing.
Mahanjana said that after investigations by the police, the sangoma was arrested on 29 May 2025, and he subsequently made a confession and pointed out where the child’s body was buried.
In court on Monday, 2 June 2025, the matter was postponed to 5 June 2025, for legal representation for the sangoma.
The state intends to oppose his release on bail.
The court previously denied the dead baby’s mother’s request to be released on bail.
She has been in custody since November 2024.
