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Bulawayo maid killed, body dissolved in acid
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In a chilling case that has shocked the Bulawayo community, a man from Matsheumhlope suburb has appeared in court accused of aiding his friend in concealing a murder by dissolving the victim's body in hydrochloric acid.
Cassy Chivako recently stood before Bulawayo High Court Judge Justice Ngoni Nduna, charged with being an accessory to murder. Chivako pleaded not guilty and was remanded in custody, with the case set to continue on 4 March.
The gruesome events date back to 30 May 2020, when Chivako's friend, Paul Tawana Clifford Ngwenya, allegedly killed Tapelo Mazolo, who was employed as a maid at Ngwenya's residence. It is alleged that Ngwenya struck Mazolo with an iron pole, leading to her death.
Prosecutors claim that after the murder, Chivako and Ngwenya devised a horrifying plan to dispose of the body. The two allegedly purchased 25 liters of hydrochloric acid from a local shop and a 200-liter drum from Ascot Mall. They then reportedly soaked Mazolo's body in the acid-filled drum in an attempt to dissolve it.
The crime came to light on 10 June 2020, when Buzwani Ngwenya, a gardener at the same residence, entered the house to turn off some lights after noticing the deceased was absent. Inside, he detected a foul smell and immediately alerted the police.
Detectives from Hillside Police Station and CID Homicide responded to the scene. Upon entering Mazolo's room, they discovered a blue drum in the en-suite bathroom containing a corrosive liquid and the deceased's body, wrapped in black plastic. The body was in an advanced state of decomposition.
Subsequent investigations led to the arrest of Chivako and Ngwenya. While Chivako now faces trial, Ngwenya was admitted to Mlondolozi Special Institution after medical examinations revealed he suffers from a mental disorder.
The horrifying details of the case have left many in Bulawayo reeling, with questions being raised about how such a heinous act could have occurred in a residential suburb. Further hearings are expected to shed more light on the events surrounding Mazolo's tragic death.
Cassy Chivako recently stood before Bulawayo High Court Judge Justice Ngoni Nduna, charged with being an accessory to murder. Chivako pleaded not guilty and was remanded in custody, with the case set to continue on 4 March.
The gruesome events date back to 30 May 2020, when Chivako's friend, Paul Tawana Clifford Ngwenya, allegedly killed Tapelo Mazolo, who was employed as a maid at Ngwenya's residence. It is alleged that Ngwenya struck Mazolo with an iron pole, leading to her death.
Prosecutors claim that after the murder, Chivako and Ngwenya devised a horrifying plan to dispose of the body. The two allegedly purchased 25 liters of hydrochloric acid from a local shop and a 200-liter drum from Ascot Mall. They then reportedly soaked Mazolo's body in the acid-filled drum in an attempt to dissolve it.
The crime came to light on 10 June 2020, when Buzwani Ngwenya, a gardener at the same residence, entered the house to turn off some lights after noticing the deceased was absent. Inside, he detected a foul smell and immediately alerted the police.
Detectives from Hillside Police Station and CID Homicide responded to the scene. Upon entering Mazolo's room, they discovered a blue drum in the en-suite bathroom containing a corrosive liquid and the deceased's body, wrapped in black plastic. The body was in an advanced state of decomposition.
Subsequent investigations led to the arrest of Chivako and Ngwenya. While Chivako now faces trial, Ngwenya was admitted to Mlondolozi Special Institution after medical examinations revealed he suffers from a mental disorder.
The horrifying details of the case have left many in Bulawayo reeling, with questions being raised about how such a heinous act could have occurred in a residential suburb. Further hearings are expected to shed more light on the events surrounding Mazolo's tragic death.
Source - bmetro
