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A 27-year-old Eastern Cape man was back in the Port St John’s Magistrates’ Court on Monday in connection with the rape and murder of his two-year-old daughter.
The National Prosecuting Authority said the case against Esethu Mamlambo, was, however, postponed for him to secure the services of a legal aid attorney.
NPA regional spokesperson, Luxolo Tyali, said when Mamlambo made his first appearance a week ago, the State Prosecutor, Justice Tsala, requested that he be sent for mental evaluation as he was “aggressive and acted strangely, including smearing himself with his faeces while in the holding cells.”
Mamlambo was apprehended by community members and handed to the police on Friday, 03 February, after he raped his daughter in the Ntsimbini Area in the district of Port St John’s.
The child died later in hospital.
Tyali said on Monday the father told the court that his name was Thabo Witbooi and not Esethu Mamlambo.
He said Magistrate Fika Mgudlwa postponed the matter to 23 February for him to obtain legal representation, and without addressing the mental evaluation challenge.
“The police had to drag Mamlambo back to the holding cells as he refused to leave the court. He demanded that a lawyer be made available immediately so that his case can be finalised,” he said.
