Durban Court Releases Accused Serial Killer After Granting Wrong Man Bail
- A man accused of multiple murders was released from custody under the pretext of appearing for a lesser crime
- Vukani Khumalo managed to dupe officials by swopping places with another accused appearing in the same court
- Police later apprehended Khumalo after a manhunt, and he was set to appear again, this time facing additional charges
- KZN NPA spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara confirmed a defeating the ends of justice charge to Briefly News
Source: UGC
DURBAN — A dramatic search ensued for a multiple-murder accused who slipped under the nose of law enforcement when the Durban Magistrate's Court granted him bail.
Wednesday's fiasco on 18 December 2024 ended when Vukani Khumalo was apprehended, having earlier appeared under the guise of another case.
Alleged serial killer's bail blunder
The brief taste of freedom for the man accused of at least eight murders — seven in Inanda and one in Durban — came after he swopped places with another accused, Khulekani.
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The men share the same surname but are not related. The latter was due in court for motor vehicle theft.
Khumalo, 25, deviously stood for the lesser crime instead, and the court thereafter granted him R3000 bail.
His mother reportedly paid the amount, allowing for his release on warning.
Later, when the time came for his actual case to be heard, Khulekani raised the alarm, and the court uncovered the error.
The murder accused had slipped from under their nose.
Greenwood Park police re-arrested Khumalo the same day following a search. According to reports, he had been hiding out in KwaMashu, Durban.
Defeating the ends of justice
Following his recapture, Khumalo appeared in court on Thursday, 19 December.
KwaZulu-Natal National (KZN) National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara told Briefly News he faced charges of murder and robbery and, additionally, defeating the ends of justice.
"The case was remanded to 24 January 2025 for further investigations. Khumalo had previously abandoned his bail application," she said.
Swartruggens jail escapees re-arrested
In related news, Briefly News reported that two of three Swartruggens jail escapees were recaptured after a manhunt.
They had disappeared from lawful custody on Sunday, 8 December. Initially, four detainees had escaped after forcing their exit through the cell's roof.
Police later traced and re-arrested one of the men as he tried to hike along the N4 at Swartruggens Plaza the same day. He appeared on 11 December in the Swartruggens Magistrate's Court on an escape from lawful custody charge.
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Source: Briefly News
