Update

GEORGE NEWS - The young man, Luyanda Mahlanza (22), who is accused of murdering his girlfriend Zimkhitha Ntshisela (20), briefly appeared in the George Magistrate's Court yesterday, Wednesday 5 July. Both were students at Nelson Mandela University (NMU).

Mahlanza previously opted to apply for bail, but has since changed his mind and decided to abandon his bail application. As the state is still awaiting DNA results and some crime scene photos, the case was postponed until 5 September.

Mahlanza is facing a murder charge after he allegedly stabbed the victim to death at her residence on campus on Tuesday 6 June. This is classified as a schedule six offence.

It is believed that Ntshisela, originally from Kokstad in KZN, sustained at least 17 stab wounds to her upper body when she was attacked inside her bedroom on campus.

A fellow student and eyewitness previously said she came upon the horrendous scene after she heard strange noises coming from the victim's room.

She went to investigate, but found the door to the victim's room locked, and the master key had to be used to open it. 

When the door opened, the witness allegedly saw the suspect stabbing the victim.

When police arrived, Ntshisela was already in an ambulance and had been declared dead by paramedics on the scene. Mahlanza was arrested on the scene and had to be escorted by police after fellow students became rowdy and violence erupted.