Community want bail denied for Jabulisile Tshabalala’s alleged killer

The community of Orlando in Soweto says the discovery of the body of Jabulisile Tshabalala has left them shocked and they demand the perpetrator to be denied bail.

Simiso Silomo Phakathi, who is 27 years old, appeared briefly before the Orlando Magistrate’s Court in connection with Tshabalala’s murder.

37-year-old Tshabalala, who is the accused’s girlfriend, was last seen on the 7 th of August and her body was discovered six days later covered with blankets and clothes inside her Soweto rental room.

Phakathi was arrested in Klerksdorp in the North West on Wednesday after police released his photograph to the media.

Magistrate Koos Le Roux has postponed the matter to the 28 th of August.

Tshabalala’s neighbour Nikiwe Giwu says the community is traumatised.

“This incident has shocked us to the core; we’ve never experienced such a thing and we’re very traumatised even now.

We have anger cause what we’re asking ourselves is that why didn’t he just leave her there and go? Why did he have to kill her? We’re very traumatised and we want justice for Jabulisile.

This guy must answer and tell us what happened.

No bail, I don’t think he deserves bail.” Police are searching for a 27-year-old man wanted for the murder of his girlfriend in Orlando East, Soweto.

37 year-old Jabulisile Tshabalala was found stabbed to death inside the backroom she shared with the suspect.

Police say 27-year-old Simiso Silomo Phakathi is considered… pic.twitter.com/6TvLcoavtO — SABC News (@SABCNews) August 19, 2026