Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu, [email protected]
THE families of Nothabo Zandile Khumalo and her daughters, Natalie and Nala, say they are “utterly devastated” by yet another delay in the extradition proceedings involving Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma, who is wanted in the United Kingdom over their deaths.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Khumalo and Magonya families said the repeated postponements were taking an increasing emotional toll as they continued to grieve the three family members.
The statement came after Tshuma appeared before the Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, where proceedings were postponed again.
According to the South African National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Tshuma’s extradition proceedings are separate from the South
African criminal case in which he has pleaded guilty to four charges relating to the possession of firearms and ammunition and contravening the Immigration Act.
The NPA said Tshuma had entered into a plea and sentencing agreement with the State, but the court adjourned the proceedings to allow the State to obtain the necessary authorisation for the agreement.
SABC News reported that the case was postponed, with further appearances scheduled for September 30 and October 1.
The development has frustrated the families, who said they had hoped Thursday’s proceedings would mark meaningful progress towards
Tshuma being extradited to the UK.
“Today, we had hoped to see a path forward in the extradition proceedings. Instead, we are utterly devastated to be facing yet another postponement and the prospect of an even longer wait for justice,” the families said.
“We carry the pain of losing our beautiful girls in a way words can never fully explain. Every court date brings back the hurt, the questions, the waiting, and the longing for justice.”
The families said they had now endured 65 days of grieving and waiting for the justice process to move forward.
They said Tuesday’s court sitting had been particularly difficult, describing the experience of seeing the accused in court while the families continued to mourn three members of their family.
“For others, this may be another legal matter or another date on a court calendar. For us… This is Nothabo. This is Natalie. This is Nala,” they said.
“These were three precious lives, deeply loved, whose absence is felt every single day.”
Tshuma, a British citizen of Zimbabwean heritage, was arrested in Kensington, Johannesburg, on July 10 after South African authorities received a request from UK authorities to trace and apprehend him.
He is wanted in the UK in connection with the alleged murders of his wife, Nothabo, and their daughters, Natalie, 15, and Nala, five, whose bodies were found at their home in Great Denham, Bedfordshire, in July.
The UK extradition request contains three murder charges. The NPA has confirmed that it has received all the required documentation from British authorities and that the State is ready to proceed with the extradition matter.
Tshuma has pleaded guilty in South Africa to four charges, including unlawful possession of a prohibited firearm with an obliterated serial number, unlawful possession of an unlicensed firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition and contravention of the Immigration Act.
The extradition process, however, is separate from the South African charges and will determine whether he is handed over to UK authorities to face the murder allegations.
The families said they understood that legal procedures had to be followed but appealed for the process to proceed “fairly, transparently, and without unnecessary delay”.
“We have cried. We have waited. We have hoped, and we will continue to stand together as a family and seek justice for our girls,” they said.
“Their voices may have been silenced, but their story will not be. Their lives mattered, and we will continue to speak their names.”
The family said their hope for justice remained.
