Stella Londt carer and four murder co-accused remain in custody

A carer and her four co-accused appeared in the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday in connection with the murder of two elderly women at a retirement village in Sunridge Park.

The woman and four men are charged with the double murder of Agnes Burns, 91, and Rosemary Langton, 87, who were found bound and gagged in their rooms at the St John Stella Londt Retirement Centre on the morning of September 10.

A number of valuable items, including Krugerrands and jewellery, were stolen from the women, who are believed to have been friends.

Caregiver Nomgebisi Slangveld, 34, who is said to have been on duty on the night of the botched robbery, as well as Mkhuseli Damenti, 30, Nyasha Manyange, 33, Panganai Mabwe, 27, and Craig Madiro, 20, were in the dock briefly on Tuesday morning. They stood side by side.

State advocate Marius Stander said the prosecution was vehemently opposed to their release on bail.

The five accused were arrested last week.

Stander said at least three of them were foreign nationals and that their status in the country needed to be confirmed.

The matter was postponed to November 4 for their formal bail application.