Karabo a��s ritual killing shock

Soweto femicide victim Karabo Mokoena, whose tragic death sent shockwaves across the country, was allegedly murdered by her boyfriend Sandile Mantsoe in what police believe to be a ritual killing.

Mantsoe and Mokoena allegedly performed a ritual at a Joburg church where they swapped blood in a bid to unite the couple spiritually and strengthen Mantsoea��s ailing business.

Sunday World also learnt Mantsoea��s Ghanaian sangoma, who is also believed to be linked to the murder, died shortly after learning in the media that the 27-year-old had owned up to burning her body and dumping it in a veld in Bramley, Joburg.

On the other hand, Mantsoe claims that Mokoena was suicidal and might have committed suicide after they had an acrimonious argument in his Sandton apartment.

Sunday World has also learnt that Mantsoe was married to a 33-year-old woman from Lusikisiki, in Eastern Cape.

Police are on the womana��s trail to obtain a statement from her.

It is not known whether Mantsoe and his wife, whose name is known to Sunday World, were still seeing each other at the time of Mokoenaa��s death. But records show they are still married.

These explosive tidbits are expected to be advanced by the State when it opposes Mantsoea��s bail application at the Johannesburg Magistratea��s Court.

Police spokesman Mavela Masondo declined to comment. a�?The matter is now before court, everything will be revealed in court,a�? he said.

a�?We cannot reveal anything at this stage because we will jeopardise our investigation.a�?

NPA spokeswoman Phindi Mjonondwane declined to comment.

Mokoenaa��s uncle, Tshepo, said he was shocked by the allegations. a�?All we know was that Karabo had accepted God in her life before her death. We as a family dona��t know that Karabo was a member of that church and have no idea of any ritual that was performed,a�? he said. a�?The police have not spoken to us about those details, Ia��m even more hurt by these allegations.a�?

Tshepo also dismissed allegations that Karabo was Mantsoea��s nyatsi and that she knew he was married but still got involved with him.

a�?Karabo would not have agreed. The family would not have approved of her relationship with him had they known that he was married.a�?

A deep throat who is close to the case said the state would present the riveting details in a bid to oppose his bail efforts.

a�?The information I relate to you has been gathered by the new investigating officer. The previous one has been removed from the case. The state will argue Mantsoe and Karabo performed a ritual at that church, where they swapped blood. The state will argue that Mantsoe killed her as a sacrifice when she wanted to leave him after their fights,a�? said the mole.

The tipster said the state would also argue that Mantsoe was also seeing an Ghanaian inyanga who might have encouraged him to kill her and possibly harvest her body parts.

a�?The new investigating officer, Captain Radebe, is working round the clock to find the house in which the Ghanaian sangoma was living, and raid it, with the hope that they would find human body parts.a�?

The source also said the police have already interrogated members of the church who corroborated the claims.

The churcha��s pastor, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said he was not aware of the alleged ritual performed by the couple.
a�?There are no cultic activities in my church. Ia��m shocked by those things. If they were performed, then they were not performed at my church,a�? he said. a�� Sunday World .