Dawn Park murder twist: Two women face court as man walks free
Dawn Park murder: Two women face court as man walks free as investigators continue probing the killing of Jabulile Ntimba in Villa Lisa, near Dawn Park, Ekurhuleni.
Two women appeared before the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday in connection with Ntimba’s death, while a man who was initially taken in alongside them was not charged and has since been released.
Fortunate Masilela and Tsakane Nester Msithini are facing charges of premeditated murder and defeating or obstructing the course of justice. They have been remanded in custody and are expected to return to court on October 1 for a formal bail application.
The case has attracted significant attention because Ntimba is the ninth woman whose body has been discovered in Ekurhuleni since July. However, investigators have stressed that there is currently no confirmed link between her murder and the other cases.
Dawn Park murder investigation continues
The Dawn Park murder investigation began after Ntimba’s body was discovered in an open area on Lama Street in Villa Lisa on September 17.
Police said she had suffered severe injuries. Reports from the scene and subsequent court coverage indicate that she had been seriously assaulted and that her throat had been slit.
Her death came amid an ongoing investigation into the deaths of women whose bodies have been discovered in different parts of Ekurhuleni over several weeks.
The South African Police Service previously confirmed that the discovery of Ntimba’s body brought the number of women found dead in the broader Ekurhuleni investigation to nine. A multidisciplinary team has been working on the cases.
Despite the circumstances surrounding the case, police have not established that Ntimba was killed as part of the same pattern as the other women.
Deputy National Police Commissioner for Policing Lieutenant-General Tebello Mosikili said investigators were treating Ntimba’s case with particular attention to the circumstances surrounding her death.
Jabulile Ntimba case points to possible relationship dispute
The Jabulile Ntimba investigation has taken a different direction after police indicated that a possible relationship dispute could have played a role.
Mosikili said investigators had picked up an indication that the killing may have stemmed from what police described as a possible love triangle. Police have not disclosed further details about the relationships involved, saying that releasing too much information could compromise the investigation and court proceedings.
The possible motive remains an allegation under investigation and has not been established by a court.
The development is significant because the deaths of several women in Ekurhuleni had raised public concern about whether a single perpetrator or connected group could be responsible.
However, police have repeatedly urged caution while investigations continue.
TimesLIVE reported that police were focusing on a relationship-related motive in Ntimba’s case while not ruling out the possibility of links to other cases.
Fortunate Masilela and Tsakane Nester Msithini appear in court
Fortunate Masilela and Tsakane Nester Msithini appeared in the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
The two women face charges relating to the murder of Ntimba as well as defeating or obstructing the course of justice. They remain in custody until their next court appearance.
Their bail application is expected to take place on October 1.
Because the murder charge is being treated as a Schedule 6 offence, the accused will have to satisfy the court that exceptional circumstances exist before bail can be granted.
At this stage, the allegations against the two women remain before the court and have not been proven.
The court also imposed restrictions on media coverage of the proceedings. Only audio recordings were permitted, while photographs and video footage showing the accused or presiding officers were prohibited.
Man arrested in Dawn Park murder not charged
One of the major developments in the case is the decision not to place the male suspect before court.
Police initially confirmed that three people had been taken in following the investigation into Ntimba’s death. However, only Masilela and Msithini appeared in court.
Mosikili confirmed that the third suspect had not been enrolled in the case.
The State has indicated that there was insufficient evidence at this stage to place the man before court. He was therefore released while investigations continue.
The decision does not necessarily mean the investigation into his possible involvement has ended.
Police said investigators were continuing to follow up on possible links to the murder. Further evidence could lead to additional developments, including the consideration of other suspects.
Mosikili said an identity parade could also be conducted if investigators deemed it necessary.
The investigation is being conducted in consultation with prosecutors, with police following a prosecutor-guided approach.
Ekurhuleni women killings remain under investigation
The Ekurhuleni women killings investigation continues to attract attention because of the number of women whose bodies have been discovered since July.
According to police, nine women had been found dead in different parts of Ekurhuleni by the time Ntimba’s body was discovered on September 17. The cases include discoveries in areas such as Kempton Park, Olifantsfontein, Kwa-Thema and Dawn Park.
The circumstances surrounding the deaths are not identical, and police have not confirmed that all the cases are connected.
In Ntimba’s case, investigators are examining the possibility of a relationship-related motive, while other investigative avenues remain open.
Police have also indicated that multidisciplinary teams are examining evidence and following leads across the wider investigation.
The authorities have urged members of the public with relevant information to come forward.
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Investigation continues after court appearance
The latest developments mean that two women are now facing formal charges in the Dawn Park murder, while the man initially taken in for questioning remains outside the court process.
For the families involved, the investigation remains an important step towards establishing exactly what happened to Ntimba and whether anyone else was involved.
The next major development is expected on October 1, when Masilela and Msithini are due back in the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court for their bail application.
Until then, investigators are expected to continue gathering evidence, following leads and assessing whether the available information supports further arrests or charges.
The case also remains separate from the broader Ekurhuleni investigation unless police establish evidence connecting Ntimba’s death to the other cases.
As the investigation develops, authorities are expected to provide further information through the criminal justice process while protecting evidence that could affect the eventual court proceedings.
For now, Dawn Park murder: Two women face court as man walks free remains an active criminal investigation, with two accused women before the court and further questions surrounding the circumstances of Ntimba’s death still being investigated.
References from mainstream media
- IOL – Dawn Park murder twist: Two women face court as man walks free — covers the two women facing murder charges and the release of the male suspect. Read IOL report
- SABC News – Ekurhuleni murder case postponed to 1 October for bail application — reports on Fortunate Masilela and Tsakane Nester Msithini’s court appearance and bail application. Read SABC News report
- Eyewitness News (EWN) – Two women in court as third suspect released in Villa Liza murder case — reports that the third suspect was released while the two women appeared in court. Read EWN report
- TimesLIVE – Police link woman’s death to love triangle — reports on police investigating a possible relationship-related motive in Jabulile Ntimba’s death. Read TimesLIVE report
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