Kamogelo Muvhenzhe
Kutullo thought she had found love online, but the man she met on Facebook now faces trial for her murder.
Kutullo Maake was a staunch Christian who believed in being in a relationship with someone else who belonged to her faith.
Last year, the 27-year-old met a man on Facebook who appeared to be as passionate about Christianity as she was.
But unbeknownst to Kutullo, Phuti Monareng, 30, was married.
After a few weeks, they made arrangements to meet Monareng at his rented room in Polokwane, more than 200 kilometres from Kutullo’s village in Burgersfort.
Shortly after sleeping with Kutullo, Monareng allegedly stabbed her to death.
Leaving her body in his room in Flora Park, he stole her car and returned to his wife and bragged about his ‘new’ car, which he claimed to have bought in Pretoria.
It wasn’t long before Monareng was caught, whilst travelling with his family to church in Kutullo’s car.
Though the crime took place in July of last year, the case was struck off the roll by the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court over a lack of evidence and Monareng was freed.
But after nine months, the case was reinstated in May following recent evidence uncovered by the police.
The new evidence has not yet been made available to the public.
On Tuesday, Monareng appeared in Polokwane Magistrate’s Court on charges of murder and theft.
Kutullo’s aunt, Vinny Molapo, said that the crime Monareng committed was beyond evil.
“We were shattered when he was freed. Now all we want is for him to tell us why he killed her, we have lost a very precious life in Kutullo. It’s hard for everyone at home to move on from the pain because the tale of this story hasn’t been told,” Vinny told Scrolla.Africa.
The murder case has been transferred to Limpopo High Court for trial from 18 July 2022.
