Durban – The case against three minors involved in the murder of a woman who was decapitated was postponed by the Durban Regional Court on Friday.

The court was scheduled to hear their pleas on Thursday, when an 18-year-old pleaded guilty to killing and decapitating a prostitute.

The case was then set down for Friday, but Magistrate Anand Maharaj further postponed the matter to Monday so their pleas could be typed.

Falakhe Khumalo pleaded guilty on Thursday and was sentenced to life imprisonment for his role in the death of Desiree Murugan, whose headless body was found by municipal workers at Shallcross Stadium in Durban on 18 August.

Traditional healer Sivonkaliso Mbili and his assistant Vusumuzi Gumede, 30, who were linked to the murder, have not pleaded and are expected to apply for bail on 22 September.

The court heard on Thursday that Khumalo was promised R2m for the head of a white, Indian or coloured woman.

Chopped off

In an explanation of plea he detailed how he plotted for more than a year to get the head to pay Mbili, who had cured him of a sexually transmitted disease.

He said he and his three co-accused lured Murugan, 39, to the stadium, where he paid her R100 for sex and oral sex.

“Whilst having sex, accused number one came behind me with an Okapi knife and she saw him. I then placed my hand over her mouth so that she cannot make a noise, held her tight so that she does not move.”

Khumalo said the accused, who is a minor and may not be named, stabbed her several times.

The body was dragged to another part of the sports field, where the head was chopped off.

Khumalo and his co-accused took the head to Mbili, the fourth accused in the trial.

Mbili allegedly ordered Gumede to bury the tins in which Murugan’s body parts had been placed.

SAPA