MFABANTFU – The mother and wife of the pastor who allegedly killed four women and dumped their bodies near his church have apologised to the nation, the church and Christian community.
Nkosingiphile Zwane’s mother, Simangele Simelane, said her son’s alleged actions are unfortunate and were never inspired by the family.
She said she raised her son on Christian principles and had always cherished the path he took as a church leader. She said she did not realise that he was living a double life. She stated that her son’s actions have tarnished the image of the church.
Zwane appeared at the Manzini Magistrates Court yesterday facing six charges of allegedly killing four women and dumping their bodies near his church at Mfabantfu. He has not been offered the opportunity to plead yet, but has recorded a confession.
Simelane said she had realised the deep impact that her son’s actions have caused to the families, the church and the nation at large.
“This took all of us by surprise as none of us here at home saw it coming. We are very sorry to everyone for what has happened,” she said.
Simelene said even when the member of the community police forum, Sigidla Motsa, explained to her what had happened, it took time to sink in.
“When I saw the police gathered around the church, I wanted to go and ask what was happening, but some community members stopped me, saying it was too risky for me to come closer. I then returned home wondering what was happening at church,” she said.
Simelane said among her children, Zwane was the most well-behaved and always respected her, despite that he was a church leader.
Zwane was born out of wedlock. As tears ran down her face, Simelane said she does not even have money to contribute to any of the families to bury their loved ones.
“He had access to the church and would walk in any time to take the keys, saying he was going to pray. I did not assume there was anything amiss,” she said.
Meanwhile, Zwane’s wife, Lungile, also apologised on behalf of her husband, saying her husband did not show any signs that he could be involved in murder.
“I only noticed that he was losing weight and preferred to keep quiet most of the time. I asked him what was bothering him, but he simply said ‘nothing’,” she said.
Lungile, who is a textile worker, told this publication that she assumed that her husband was moody at times because he was unemployed.
She also said she did not suspect that her husband was cheating on her because he managed to conceal his other life.
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6 charges: Pastor charged with slashing, strangling girlfriend
MANZINI – As police intensify their investigations into the murder cases, fresh court documents have revealed that the pastor allegedly assaulted his girlfriend weeks earlier.
He is alleged to have slashed her with a sharp object, strangled and threatened her with sexual violence. The new allegations surfaced yesterday when Nkosingiphile Allen Zwane (40) appeared before Principal Magistrate David Khumalo at the Manzini Magistrates Court. Prosecutors laid before the court a charge sheet containing six charges arising from two separate sets of alleged offences.
Two of the charges relate to offences under the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act involving the accused’s girlfriend, Nonhlanhla Magagula, while four counts accuse him of murdering Bongiwe Phetsile Mkhonta, Samkelisiwe Shabangu, Noncedo Mohale and Nolwazi Nonhlanhla Langa.
The domestic violence allegations, which had not previously been made public, are alleged to have occurred on May 4 at Mahhala, almost two months before the four women were allegedly killed.
The charge sheet alleges that the accused first threatened Magagula in a manner that caused her to believe she would be sexually violated, resulting in a charge under Section 6 of the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act.
Prosecutors further allege that during the same incident, Zwane cut Magagula on the hand with a sharp object before strangling her.
According to the charge sheet, the alleged assault endangered her safety and well-being, leading to a second charge under Section 77(1)(a) of the Act.
The allegations provide an indication that investigators are examining a broader pattern of alleged violence beyond the deaths of the four women whose bodies were recovered from a shallow grave at Mfabantfu.
Until yesterday, public attention had largely centred on allegations that the accused lured women to the church where he preached before sexually assaulting and killing them.
It was suspected that the victims were dragged from the church and dumped in a shallow ditch at Mfabantfu, where police recovered their bodies during an intensive investigation.
Yesterday’s proceedings, however, revealed that detectives are also pursuing allegations involving a woman who survived an earlier encounter with the accused.
According to the charge sheet, the alleged offences against Magagula occurred at Mahhala in Matsapha, where the accused is alleged to have first threatened her with sexual violence before physically attacking her.
While the State has not disclosed the circumstances that reportedly led to the confrontation, prosecutors contend that the pastor’s conduct amounted to criminal offences under the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act.
During the same court proceedings, the Crown successfully applied for Zwane to be kept in police custody pending the completion of ongoing investigations. Prosecutors also sought and obtained an order authorising police to detain the accused’s cellphone, identity document, bank cards and clothing as part of the investigation.
In addition, the State applied for blood samples to be taken from Zwane and the four deceased women for laboratory analysis, as well as post-mortem examinations to be conducted on all four bodies. Zwane did not object to any of the applications, all of which were granted by Principal Magistrate David Khumalo. The accused was thereafter remanded in police custody until July 8, 2026 when he is expected to return to court.
The State further alleges that on Monday (June 29) Zwane murdered Mkhonta at Mahhala. He is further accused of killing Shabangu, Mohale and Langa on the same date and in the same area. Each of the four counts alleges that the accused unlawfully and intentionally killed the women.
*Full article available on Pressreader*
