Pretoria – A Diepsloot couple accused of murdering the woman’s 7-month-old baby appeared briefly in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.

The case against Nokuthula Gumede, 23, and her Mozambican boyfriend Fernanado Sidanvo, 35, was postponed to 21 January for further investigation.

Gumede and Sidanvo remained in custody. Sidanvo told the court he lost his residence permit when Diepsloot residents ransacked his shack.

The baby was found dead and mutilated earlier this month.

Police spokesperson Captain Tsekiso Mofokeng said rats gnawed off the baby’s foot while the child was left alone in a shack.

Gumede was arrested in a Randburg, Johannesburg, tavern two weeks ago, and Sidanvo the following day in Diepsloot.

– SAPA