Three people accused of murdering and mutilating a pregnant Mosotho woman will bring a bail application in the Ficksburg District Court on Thursday, Free State police said.
Teboho Daniel Ramakatsa, 31, his wife, Mamosebetsi Loraine Modise, 26, and mother-in-law, Mamahlomola Agnes Hlaudi, 68, were arrested in October in connection with the murder, Sergeant Mmako Mophiring said on Wednesday.
The body of Anastasia Qothela, 30, from Peka in Lesotho, was discovered during the maize harvest in August at Karnemel Farm in the Rosendal district, said Mophiring.
The three accused were allegedly part of a syndicate under investigation for selling identification books to Lesotho citizens at the Ficksburg border.
A traditional healer told members of the syndicate that in order to make the investigation “disappear” it had to find a pregnant woman and remove the foetus while she was still alive.
When they could not find a pregnant woman in Ficksburg, the group decided to go to Lesotho, said Mophiring.
They allegedly lured Qothela to South Africa, picked her up near the taxi rank in Ficksburg and took her to the farm.
They allegedly removed the foetus and her nails, eyes and tongue and drank her blood after a traditional healer allegedly stabbed her with a spear.
The foetus was not found by the police, said Mophiring.
The traditional healer and a home affairs official, who were wanted in connection with the murder, were still at large, said Mophiring.
