By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
25 June 2025- An illegal Lesotho national Sangoma, Sebokoana Khounyana (50), abandoned his bail application at the Vanderbijlpark Magistrates’ Court. Khounyana is facing charges of premeditated murder, human trafficking of a baby, Kutlwano Shalaba (2) and being illegal in the country.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in Gauteng, Lumka Mahanjana said Khounyana’s co-accused, the mother of the child, Kuneuwe Portia Shalaba (32), is facing charges of premeditated murder, human trafficking, conspiracy to commit robbery and making a false statement to the police.
“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 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,” she said.
Mahanjana further said after investigations by the police, the sangoma was arrested on 29 May 2025 and he subsequently made a confession and pointed out to the police about where the body of the child was buried. She added that after the brief appearance in court, the matter was postponed to 6 August 2025 for further investigations.
“The court previously denied the mother’s release on bail,” said Mahanjana.
The Guardian 