Sergeant Masina testified that the Mdluli family cleaned a crime scene

Evidence contamination just crashed into a murder trial, flipping a family home into a legal liability with consequences that refuse to fade.

Alleged crime scene interference

• Sergeant Sibusiso Masina described evidence being wiped after explicit police warnings.
• Family members reportedly scrubbed surfaces despite forensic instructions.
• Cleaning allegedly followed orders tied to Ethel Simangele Mdluli.
• Tampering erased materials that could have linked suspects.

Killing and initial attack

• Solomon Mdluli died during a violent home assault.
• Intruders allegedly beat and strangled the school principal.
• Children and Ethel Simangele Mdluli slept elsewhere during the attack.
• Rope evidence later surfaced on a dining table.

Robbery and suspicious recovery

• Assailants reportedly left with phones, electronics, and a vehicle.
• Stolen items fueled theories of a staged break-in.
• The car later appeared near KaNyamazane police offices.
• Recoveries happened after critical evidence was already lost.

Accused and charges

• Ethel Simangele Mdluli faces murder and conspiracy counts.
• Peter Khoza stands charged alongside her.
• Prosecutors claim a paid hit linked to a personal relationship.
• Both accused maintain full denials in court.

Court testimony and delays

• Mpumalanga High Court heard Masina’s account this week.
• Proceedings resumed after years of postponements.
• Bail attempts failed during the early magistrate court stages.
• Venue shifts slowed progress toward resolution.

Community and justice impact

• White River residents still reel from the educator’s death.
• Mahlatsi Secondary School lost a respected leader.
• Investigators flagged family actions as deeply abnormal.
• The case highlights how interference cripples murder probes.