The SABC reported that the 17-year-old suspect in Mapula Khune’s murder was released yesterday by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), due to insufficient evidence. The teenager appeared at the Ventersdorp Children’s Court on Monday morning.
“What transpired today is that after going through the docket, the NPA realised that there is no sufficient evidence for us to institute a prosecution. So the docket has been send back to the police for further investigations. The suspect will be led free,” said a North West NPA spokesperson Henry Mamothane as quoted by SABC.

Mapula Khune is Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper, Itumeleng Khune’s younger sister. She lost her life due to a fatal fire at her grandparents home in Tshing, Extension 2, North West. Her body was discovered on Thursday morning and she was burnt beyond recognition. The 17-year-old boy was arrested in connection to the murder of the goalie’s sister on Friday afternoon. “This comes after the 17-year-old boy was charged on Friday afternoon, 5 March 2021, in Ventersdorp, following the alleged murder of Khune. Police initially investigated an inquest, but after obtaining more information, the inquest was changed to murder.

“Since Friday, additional cases of assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm (GBH) have been reported as community street patrollers and family members have allegedly been assaulting alleged perpetrators for the murder of Khune,” reads a police statement.

The national broadcaster also revealed that the police still need to explain why the boy was linked as a suspect in the murder. However Daily Sun is reporting that a young boy had visited Mapula the night before the fire and wanted her to assist him with his school work. This was revealed by Mapula’s mother, Florah Khune, who told the publication, “He wanted her to help him with his homework. I directed him to where Mapula was. Her cousin came later and helped the boy as Mapula told him she had a vision.“

The cousin then revealed to the family that the 27-year-old saw her own death before it initially happened. She told her cousin that she had a vision about ambulances, fire trucks and the police.
Florah also added that when she was informed by her neighbours that her house was on fire she was in disbelief. This caused her to turn the ambulances away however in a jaw dropping moment, she saw with her own eyes that the backroom Mapula lived in was on fire. “My husband and I screamed hoping that our daughter was not inside.”