Home News Former city rugby player accused of murdering ex-girlfriend kills himself

Former city rugby player accused of murdering ex-girlfriend kills himself

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The formmer city rugby player and employee of the Northern Cape Department of Agriculture, Siyanda Gxwati, who was accused of murdering his ex-girlfriend, Refilwe “Fifi” Letebele, has killed himself.

Former city rugby player, Siyanda Gxwati was accused of brutally murdering Refilwe “Fifi” Letebele. Picture: Soraya Crowie

THE FORMER city rugby player and employee of the Northern Cape Department of Agriculture, Siyanda Gxwati, who was accused of murdering his ex-girlfriend, Refilwe “Fifi” Letebele, has killed himself.

Gxwati, 35, committed suicide by hanging himself at his parent’s home in Bloemfontein on the weekend.

Free State police spokesperson Brigadier Motansi Makhele said on Monday that the police have opened an inquest docket.

“An inquest docket was opened at the Park Road police station. The 35-year-old man is suspected to have died between the period of Sunday night, February 28, 2021, and Monday, March 1, 2021, at 3.10pm. He was last seen by his nephew in the back room where he was staying on Eiland Street in Fauna in Bloemfontein. The nephew later discovered his body hanging in the garage on Monday,” said Makhele.

“The police and paramedics were called to the scene. No note was left by the deceased. The mother of the deceased was taken to hospital for treatment. No foul play is suspected.”

Refilwe “Fifi” Letebele who was allegedly brutally murdered by former rugby player, Siyanda Gxwati. Picture: Supplied

Gxwati, who is on trial for the murder of Letebele, was expected to appear in the Northern Cape High Court next week. He was out on bail of R5,000 at the time of his death.

Letebele, 28, was killed at her parent’s home in Barkly Road in Kimberley on January 12, 2018.

Gxwati was charged with her murder after he allegedly stabbed her several times and slit her throat in the presence of her 13-year-old cousin.

During his trial in November last year, Gxwati told the court that he had no recollection of the events and that even at the time of his arrest he did not know what had occurred.

After allegedly killing Letebele, Gxwati stabbed himself 16 times in the chest and cut his own throat.

Two knives were found in Gxwati’s possession on the day of the incident as well as a brick, which he apparently used to sharpen one of the knives, was found inside his car.

Spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority in Northern Cape, Mojalefa Senokoatsane, said on Monday that once the NPA has received the death certificate, it will determine the way forward.

“We cannot at this stage deny or confirm the incident until we have the death certificate and also know the cause of death. We first need that evidence and then we can give comment on the matter and the court case,” said Senokoatsane.

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