A 31-year-old Eastern Cape man accused of the brutal murder of a 29-year-old woman appeared in the Ezibeleni Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
Aseza Qakalane was remanded in police custody and is expected to return to court in a week for a formal bail application. He was arrested in the early hours of Monday morning following a police investigation.
Eastern Cape police spokesperson Captain Yolisa Mgolodela confirmed that officers responded to a call from a community member in Unathi Mkefa, Ezibeleni.
"Police arrived at the scene around 03:30 and discovered the lifeless body of the victim lying half-naked on a wet bed. The room was in disarray, indicating a violent struggle," Mgolodela said.
Upon examination, authorities confirmed that the woman had died from strangulation. Further investigations revealed that the suspect, who is the brother-in-law of the homestead owner, had been living with the deceased in an outside room. He was immediately taken into custody on suspicion of murder.
District Commissioner Major General Rudolph Adolph strongly condemned the ongoing gender-based violence plaguing communities, calling for swift justice in the case.
The investigation is ongoing, and police have urged anyone with information to come forward.