MURDER ACCUSED APPEARS IN COURT FOR KILLING A STUDENT ON A DURBAN CAMPUS

On Tuesday a man killed a university student, Zolile Khumalo. The man, known as Thabani Mzolo, is accused of shooting Khumalo at a Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) residence in Durban CBD.

Mzolo smiled for the media cameras as he entered the Durban Magistrate's Court on Thursday. He is a former student, while Khumalo was in her first year studying quantity surveying.

The murder made headlines after Mzolo allegedly confessed on social media after the murder. On a Facebook profile believed to be Mzolo’s, which has his photo, but a different name and surname, a post is made about “Zozo” who is gone.

On the same profile is a photo of him and Khumalo holding firearms. He brandishes a rifle while she holds a pistol.

On Thursday Khumalo’s sister, Sane Khumalo said the family was still too shocked and distraught to speak.

She added by saying that they were concentrating on planning 21-year-old Zolile’s funeral and had since gone back home to Eshowe after rushing to Durban upon hearing the news.

Mzolo smiled again in court – this time at the public gallery, which was filled mostly with MUT students.

As he looked back at the students, some of them flashed threatening signs at him. In response, Mzolo made signs of his own, indicating pulling a trigger. He continued this motion as he went down the stairs into the holding cells.

“Look at this thing, he doesn’t care,” said someone in the gallery.

During his brief appearance before magistrate Mohamed Motala, Mzolo was told that he was charged with murder and the possession of prohibited firearms and ammunition.

He applied to be represented by Legal Aid, and after a brief consultation with his lawyer, the court heard that he had finished his studies at MUT last year.

The case was postponed for further investigation.