He was stripped naked, assaulted, forced to admit to killing a 85-year-old woman, Charlotte Madolo, and spent six weeks behind bars for the murder. More than a year later, Andile Mokuppo is now a free man following his acquittal in the Wynberg Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 1 August.
The 47-year-old was arrested after Madolo’s disfigured body was discovered in her house at NY132 in Gugulethu in February last year. She had a scar over her left eye and the right eye was gouged out. (“Pensioner killed at home,” City Vision 24 February 2022).
He was nabbed the same day in what his family believes is a case of mistaken identity after being s accused of brutally killing Madolo.
“On that day of the incident I was with my friends at one of the houses on my street (NY 133),” Mokuppo told City Vision. “Later I went to NY 114, which is where some of the residents found me. They assaulted me and stripped me of my clothes in public without asking me anything. They even stabbed me above the right eye. They then put me in the boot of a car and drove me to the police station.”
He said his cries for help fell on deaf ears. He was kept in custody for six weeks before being granted bail.
For the duration of his trial he could not talk about the case publicly.
Following the withdrawal of the charges against him, Makuppo told City Vision how he tirelessly fought to clear his name and for his freedom. “My case was withdrawn at the Wynberg Magistrates’ Court this year on Thursday 1 August. The court found no evidence that linked me with the murder. The people I was drinking with that day went to the police station to make statements confirming I was with them that day, but the officers never listened to them.”
Explaining how his name was dragged into the incident, Makuppo said a child reportedly informed residents she had seen him coming out of the Madolo’s house with blood-stained clothes.
“There was another Andile who used to do chores in Gogo’s house, but his nickname was Fayima. I heard from my sister that the detectives had come looking for me. They also asked for my nickname. My sister said she told the detective I’m also Andile, but my nickname is Aija
The detectives left the house but returned later that day to arrest him.
Makuppo’s sister Nontsikelelo blamed the justice system for failing her brother and the entire family. She said the family was adamant that her brother never committed the murder.
The family is now worried that Makuppo is regarded as a murderer in some sections of society.
According to Nontsikelelo, they have also been living in fear since the incident. Some people look at her brother as a killer, she informed City Vision.
“My brother is not safe because of officers who failed to investigate the case properly. I am also accused of protecting the criminal by some community members. Andile is not a killer. He never killed Gogo. The deceased’s family must go and find out who killed their granny,” she said, adding that they wanted people to know that her brother was acquitted.
Nontsikelelo said the case left not only their brother but the family as a whole traumatised.
Gugulethu Police Station commander Brig Nokuthula Pete confirmed the charges against Makuppo were withdrawn.