The man accused of the rape and murder of his two-year-old daughter earlier this month made his second court appearance in the Port St John’s Magistrate’s Court today.
The case against Esethu Mamlambo (27) was postponed to February 23 in order for him to secure the services of a legal aid attorney.
When he made his first appearance last week Monday, February 7, the prosecutor requested that he be sent for mental evaluation, because he was aggressive and acted strangely, including smearing himself with his faeces while in the holding cells.
Today he told the court that his name was not Esethu Mamlambo, but he is Thabo Witbooi. The prosecutor told the court that the local health centre had asked the court to write a letter to Mthatha Regional Hospital, for him to be mentally assessed there.
When the court informed Mamlambo of his rights, he initially said he wants to conduct his defense, because his “religion does not permit that someone lies on his behalf”. But when that was still being interpreted, he changed his tune and told the court that he does not have money but he wants a “proper and honest lawyer with a proven track record”.
Magistrate Fika Mgudlwa postponed the matter for legal representation without addressing the mental evaluation challenge. The police had to drag Mamlambo back to the holding cells as he refused to leave the court. He demanded that a lawyer be made available immediately so that his case can be finalized.
Mamlambo was apprehended by community members and handed to the police on Friday, February 3 after he allegedly raped his daughter at Ntsimbini Area in the district of Port St John’s.
It is alleged that before raping his infant daughter, who later died in hospital, Mamlambo had been violent towards his family members and even attempted to rape his mother.
ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL PROSECUTING AUTHORITY
