Seakamela said the family was still in pain over Jacob’s death, especially given the way his corpse was discovered.
“Jacob’s death affected us deeply. He was discarded in a bin, which really hurt us. She shouldn’t get bail … she’s a dangerous person.”
Another relative who spoke out after Shokane-Kutumela’s arrest was Mamoloko Mashabela, the cousin of Sydney Montja, who died in October 2019.
She recently told the media she was friends with Shokane-Kutumela before her arrest.
“I still can’t believe it. I am shocked, I saw Rachel as a loving person and she used to come to visit us and take us out. We had a friendship, talking on WhatsApp. If there was something in the family, she would come and help in any way she could. You would find her buying scones.”
Mashabela said they met Shokane-Kutumela for the first time in 2019 in Seshego Hospital when she was collecting medication for her disabled cousin.
“When we were sitting there, a police van arrived and she called my cousin by his name. I didn’t know her so she asked for the number and said she knew Sydney. We shared numbers and we started talking, she called asking for directions to where Sydney lived.
“I gave her directions. When she came she said she knew Sydney and he was her boyfriend back then.”
Mashabela said at the time she had her cousin’s ID document and Sassa card, but when he was paid at the end of that month, Shokane-Kutumela took them to withdraw the grant in her Land Cruiser. The car is one of five she apparently owns. The others are two Range Rovers, a BMW and a Mercedes-Benz.
Khanyisile Ngcobo, PHATHU LUVHENGO
www.timeslive.co.za
