Bongani Ndlovu
THE family of Nothabo Zandile Tshuma and her two daughters, Natalie and Nala, says the pain of losing the trio has not eased, with the South African court case involving Ndodana Tshuma postponed yet again.
In a heartbreaking statement, the Khumalo family said it was still battling grief and unanswered questions, 115 days after the mother and her two daughters were found dead in the United Kingdom.
The latest delay has left the family waiting longer for answers, with the case now set to continue on 10 November.
“For us, these are not simply dates on a court calendar. They are days, weeks and months of grief, unanswered questions and lives forever changed,” the family said.
Tshuma first appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court on 13 July 2026, but proceedings have been repeatedly delayed over immigration checks, extradition paperwork, further investigations into a separate firearm matter and issues surrounding a plea agreement.
At the 21 October hearing, Tshuma reportedly told the court that he could not remember pleading guilty or signing the agreement. His lawyer sought more time to consult him, with a mental evaluation application anticipated.
When the matter resumed on 29 October, the application had not been brought before the court, and proceedings were postponed to 10 November for the continuation of plea proceedings. The Khumalo family said it continued to follow every court appearance, hoping the process would bring it closer to the truth and justice.
“As a family, we do not have the luxury of forgetting. We remember every single day because every day is another day without Nothabo, Natalie and Nala,” the statement reads.
The family said the girls’ grandparents were still struggling with painful questions about the loss of their loved ones.
“Our parents and the girls’ grandparents continue to carry questions that weigh on us every day. No family should have to endure such uncertainty while already carrying the unimaginable pain of losing three loved ones,” the family said.
While acknowledging that legal proceedings must run their course, the family urged that the human cost of the delays not be forgotten and that the three victims remain at the centre of the case.
“At the heart of this case are three precious lives that were taken, a mother and her two daughters, whose futures, dreams and place in our family can never be restored,” the statement reads. The family also acknowledged the prosecution’s efforts and expressed hope that the next hearing would bring meaningful progress towards justice.
It condemned femicide and called for an end to violence against women.
“Every parent hopes that no daughter will ever experience such violence. Femicide is wrong, and we pray that no other family will ever have to endure this pain,” the family said.
