Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
A SUSPECTED serial killer and rapist has appeared at the Gwanda Regional Magistrates Court facing a murder charge and two counts of rape, with investigations into other possible cases still ongoing.
Nqobani Ncube (30), of no fixed abode, was not asked to plead when he appeared briefly before Gwanda magistrate Ms Brenda Kachepa facing the murder charge. He was remanded in custody to November 3.
Ncube also pleaded guilty to two counts of rape before Gwanda regional magistrate Ms Sithembiso Ndebele. He was remanded in custody to Friday (October 23) for sentencing.
Ncube is alleged to have been living in a tent on a mountain on the outskirts of Gwanda town, where he allegedly abducted and sexually assaulted victims.
Prosecuting, Mr Ngonidzashe Shumba said that on October 14, Ncube kidnapped a 23-year-old woman and held her hostage for two days, during which he raped her twice.
“On 14 October the accused met the complainant near some abandoned houses near Mt Gazallet in Gwanda. He grabbed the complainant from behind, then produced an Okapi knife and threatened the complainant.
“The accused dragged the complainant by the hand deep into the bushes south of Old Gwanda Road until he reached a place where there were rocks,” he said.
“Ncube then ordered the complainant to lie down and raped her. The accused took the complainant to a place where he collected a screwdriver, a kitchen knife with a red handle and a large axe. He again took her to a pit where he took a green bucket and collected water,” the court heard.
“The accused then led the complainant to a shack, some distance southeast of the Bulawayo-Beitbridge Road. He then forced the complainant into the shack.”
Mr Shumba said Ncube tied the complainant to a tree with shoelaces the following day and left her before returning later. He subsequently released her before raping her again.
Mr Shumba said Ncube later tied the complainant to a tree and went to collect water. Before being tied up, the complainant had picked up a small green pocket lighter inside the accused’s shack.
She managed to use the lighter to burn through the shoelaces, freeing herself before fleeing. She stopped a taxi along the Beitbridge-Gwanda Road and narrated her ordeal.
The matter was reported to the police and, on Saturday (October 17, 2026), the complainant led officers to the shack, where she identified Ncube, leading to his arrest.
In the murder case, Gwanda District public prosecutor Mr Shepherd Moyo told the court that Ncube attacked the now-deceased man as he was walking home from work.
“On 26 September 2026 at around 3 PM, the now-deceased was going to his homestead from work using a dust road, which passes through Gwanda Solar Project farm, Spitzkop North, Gwanda. He was approached from behind by the accused, who was armed with a long spear,” he said.
“The accused person stabbed the now deceased once on the left side of the neck and he fell on the ground.
“The accused snatched the deceased’s small black cross bag containing a Samsung cellphone and R20 rand. The deceased managed to escape and ran towards the three witnesses who were also using the same dust road heading to their homes,” he said.
Mr Moyo said the man fell in front of the three witnesses, bleeding profusely from the mouth and nose and unable to speak.
The man later died from the stab wound before he could be taken to hospital. The matter was reported to the police, and his body was taken to the Gwanda Provincial Hospital mortuary.
