Screams, whistles and songs erupted at the Greytown Magistrate’s Court, on Monday, after the accused, Mr Mncedisi Excellent Mhlongo, was denied bail for killing his wife in front of the children.
The suspect is accused of shooting his wife, Mrs Lungile Precious Mhlongo (36), in the head twice on June 28. The case was adjourned to Friday. The family of the deceased said they were very happy with the court’s decision because the release of the accused would have put the lives of his children at risk as they had witnessed their father killing their mother.
The court was packed with the deceased’s family members, relatives, friends and colleagues in the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport. Before being taken inside, the community first protested outside the court, chanting slogans saying that Mhlongo should not be put in prison, singing songs of struggle and faith and holding placards crying about the killing of women.
When the suspect shot his wife, it is said that the children tried to intervene but to no avail.
It is reported that their youngest child, who is seven months old, was sleeping in the bedroom with the housekeeper on the day of the incident. The children reportedly saw their father loading bullets into the gun before the altercation that led to their mother’s death.
When the children fled to the bedroom to seek help, their father allegedly followed them, took away their cell phones and ordered them to stop seeking help.
In addition, they succeeded in informing family members. Some reports indicate that the defendant once tried to prepare to escape from the scene by ordering the children to pack their belongings before the police arrived.
As it happened, the deceased was supposed to be buried on the weekend we were leaving but it failed because his family got a restraining order from the court.
The spokesperson for the deceased’s family, Ms. Cebile Dlamini, said that they will know this week how the deceased is being hidden after the discussions that will take place between the families today.
Mrs Mhlongo was an Engineering Technician Production (Grade A) and Acting Area Manager at Phongolo offices under Vryheid Cost Center while the suspect worked as a car salesman at Isuzu in Pietermaritzburg.