Two of the three men accused of handling and selling a smartwatch belonging to murdered Kempton Park runner Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo have been granted bail, while the third accused remains behind bars as the court seeks to verify his immigration documents and establish arrangements for his young child.
The three men appeared at the Kempton Park Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 19 October 2026, in a case involving Moselakgomo’s Garmin smartwatch, which allegedly changed hands shortly after she disappeared in September.
The two accused who were previously granted bail of R10,000 each will return to court on 9 December for further investigations. The third accused, a Nigerian national identified in earlier reports as Kenneth Chibuzor, remains in custody, with his bail application expected to proceed on 27 October.
Nigerian accused breaks down over his child
During Monday’s proceedings, the court heard that Chibuzor’s young child had been staying with one of his friends since his arrest.
Chibuzor reportedly became emotional in court as he explained that his child had been left in the friend’s care because the child’s mother was no longer available to look after the child.
The court raised concerns about the child’s circumstances and the need to establish whether appropriate care arrangements were in place.
The State indicated that it needed the child’s birth certificate to verify the child’s details and assess the current living arrangements. Social services may also become involved to ensure the child’s welfare is protected.
Questions over immigration documents and partner
The court also heard that authorities were still trying to obtain and verify Chibuzor’s original passport and immigration-related documents.
His immigration status had previously come under scrutiny after conflicting information emerged from documents provided to police.
During the latest proceedings, questions were also raised about a woman Chibuzor reportedly described as his partner, who he said could assist him with obtaining the necessary documentation to remain in South Africa.
However, when questioned about where she lived, he reportedly said he did not know her address.
The court questioned how he could be uncertain about the whereabouts of someone he described as his partner and who he believed could assist him with his immigration status.
The State is seeking further information to verify the woman’s identity and establish the relevant details.
How the case involving Moselakgomo’s watch unfolded
Moselakgomo, 38, disappeared on 9 September while out on a run in Kempton Park. Her body was discovered three days later in bushes in the Rhodesfield area, near the R21.
Her Garmin smartwatch subsequently became a key part of a separate criminal case after investigators traced transactions involving the device.
According to allegations presented in court, Chibuzor, who operated a second-hand goods business, allegedly acquired the watch for R900 from an unidentified person before selling it to another accused.
The watch was allegedly registered to a new account before being sold to the third accused, who advertised it on Facebook Marketplace for R4,000.
The three men face charges relating to the alleged theft and handling of the watch, as well as money laundering and other offences. They have not been charged with Moselakgomo’s murder, and the proceedings concerning the watch do not establish that they were involved in her killing.
The case involving the two accused who were granted bail is scheduled to return to court on 9 December, while Chibuzor remains in custody pending further proceedings and verification of his documents.
Sources: Mail & Guardian, 19 October 2026; Sowetan and EWN court reports.
