An Archbishop wants out of jail so he can bury the woman he is accused of killing.

On Wednesday, Vumile Gwadela, 66, appeared at the Blue Downs Magistrates’ Court for a bail information hearing.

He is accused of kidnapping and killing his lover, 32-year-old Nonesi Mdekazi.

Family members informed the Daily Voice Gwadela had expressed his wish to be released on bail so that he can bury Nonesi.

Outraged by the statement, one of the victim’s relatives, Sibongile Mkwambi, says: “He can provide us with access to this money he talks about so that we can lay her to rest.

“But we don’t want him out on bail.

“The community is too upset and there is no telling what they are capable of if they could get their hands on him.”

Nonesi’s aunt, Noluthando Mdekazi, 39, says she is relieved the elderly man did not get bail.

“I just wish he can tell the truth so that we can bury Nonesi and find peace,” she says.

“We want to bury her in the Eastern Cape next week if the State would have released her body by then.”

The elderly Archbishop has admitted to police that he hired hitmen to kill his young lover from a Cape Flats township.

It is alleged the Zionist cleric scoured the township of Philippi seeking out men willing to to carry out the murder for a measly R3 500.

After a scramble to locate Gwadela’s new attorney proved fruitless, the matter was postponed by Magistrate Francis Makamadela to June 18.

He remains behind bars until the bail application in over three weeks from now.

Mfuleni residents came out in their numbers to protest outside the court, chanting that Gwadela should not get bail. Inside, community members packed the small courtroom in the hope of catching a glimpse of the frail accused.

Gwadela was arrested nearly two weeks ago by Cape Town police in Lady Frere, Eastern Cape, on a charge of kidnapping.

He fled to the rural area immediately after Nonesi mysteriously disappeared in April.

A mere four days after his arrest, he led police to a mountainous slope on the outskirts of Stellenbosch where Nonesi’s decomposing body was discovered.

A charge of murder was then added to the case.

*This article was published in the Daily Voice