Murder Suspect Nkululeko Dlamini Appears in Court for Killing Lerato Tyobeka

Nkululeko Dlamini, accused of kidnapping and brutally murdering 19-year-old Lerato Moalosi Tyobeka, appeared at the Brits Magistrate Court in North West on Thursday, 20 March 2025. Dlamini faces serious charges, including murder, kidnapping, three counts of attempted robbery with aggravating circumstances, and two counts of attempted extortion.

Presiding Magistrate Regan Rosenburg postponed the case to 24 April 2025, allowing more time for further investigations. The courtroom was packed as emotions ran high, with Lerato’s grieving family and community members demanding justice.

Lerato Tyobeka, from Modikwane, Modderspruit in Mooinooi, North West, was abducted and murdered on 2 February 2025. North West police spokesperson Colonel Adele Myburgh confirmed the heartbreaking discovery of Lerato’s body. “Her naked body was found abandoned in the bushes at Majakaneng, near the N4 highway, approximately one kilometer from where she was kidnapped,” Myburgh revealed.

The murder has left Lerato’s family shattered. Her uncle, Lucky Radebe, spoke emotionally about the family’s suffering. “The family is really struggling to cope. We’re hurting, and the pain won’t ease until we see justice done,” he said. He added that the community remains furious over the crime and promised that they would show up in full force during the next court appearance.

“Our family needs answers. We won’t stop going to court until this case is over,” Radebe vowed, reflecting the family’s determination to seek justice for Lerato.

Lerato’s mother, Pauline Minki Tyobeka, 43, expressed her frustration and pain, claiming that the court was being unfair to them. “They told us not to talk inside the courtroom. How can we cope when the man who killed my daughter sits there eating and bathing while we are left crying? He took my child’s life,” Pauline cried.

Similarly, Lerato’s aunt, Siyamthanda Nombeleko, 35, shared her disappointment in how the case is being handled. She alleged that the police failed to arrest other suspects linked to the crime. “Pauline and I are the only ones taking this case seriously. We found the suspect two days after Lerato’s death, yet others remain free,” she claimed.

Nombeleko further revealed that Dlamini was once a tenant living on the same street as Lerato nearly two years ago. She said the family was still trying to understand why Dlamini, who allegedly treated Lerato like a child, would commit such a cruel act.

North West National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Sivenathi Gunya commented on the intense atmosphere in the courtroom. “The courtroom was full due to the public interest in this case. The court orderly asked the family to remain quiet during proceedings and as they exited to avoid disrupting the court,” Gunya explained. He also clarified that the family was not escorted out by police.

Lerato Tyobeka’s brutal murder has sent shockwaves through the community, with calls for justice growing louder. The family, supported by the community, is determined to fight until the accused is held accountable for his alleged crimes.

The case will resume on 24 April 2025, with investigations ongoing.