Police deny forcing a confession in sex worker murder case

Police who investigated the murders of six sex workers in Johannesburg have denied intimidating the man accused of the crime, Sifiso Mkhwanazi, into confessing.

As the trial-within-a-trial of his alleged confession presses on at the High Court sitting in the Palm Ridge Magistrate Court, Mkhwanazi accused his father and the police of having forced him to confess.

The 21-year-old faces murder and rape charges, among others, after the women’s decomposed bodies were found at his father’s panel beating workshop in the Johannesburg CBD.

Mkhwanazi told the court his father had threatened to stop sending him food and money if he did not confess to the murders.

The accused painted a grim picture of their tumultuous relationship, saying as an employee at his father, Mark Khumalo’s workshop, he often faced beatings for mistakes on clients’ cars.

Mkhwanazi told the court he felt forced to confess to the killings for fear that his father might desert him.

Asked whether he believed his father had anything to gain from his confession, Mkhwanazi said he did not know.

Sergeant Bongani Mbonambi, the investigating officer who was present during the alleged confession, has denied that the 21-year-old was forced to admit to the crime.

Mbonambi said police did not press for a confession because the evidence against the accused was overwhelming.

The trial-within-a-trial continues today. Written by Naomi Kobbie