News in a minute | Mother and Sangoma face murder rap [video]

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A sangoma and the mother of a two-year-old girl face charges of premeditated murder after the child was poisoned and buried in a shallow grave.

‘Sangoma’ Sebokoana Khounyana (50), a Lesotho national, appeared in the Vanderbijlpark Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 2 June 2025. He is charged with murder and human trafficking.

According to the NPA, the child’s mother, Kuneuwe Portia Shalaba (32), was already facing charges of human trafficking, conspiracy to commit robbery, and lying to police. The State has now added a murder charge.

Read the full version of the“2-Year-old killed and buried: mother and sangoma charged“article.

MOM AND SANGOMA FED THE CHILD POISON

Police say Shalaba took her daughter, Kutlwano Shalaba, to Khounyana on 10 November 2024. She allegedly told him she didn’t want the child because she was a girl and claimed she had been hiding the truth from her family.

Shalaba allegedly fed the child poison. After the baby died, the pair buried her near Waterpan, Gauteng. Police arrested Khounyana on 29 May 2025. He allegedly confessed and led officers to the gravesite.