By Tendai Makaripe
JOHANNESBURG — Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma returned to the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Thursday as South African authorities continued processing Britain’s request to extradite him on charges that he killed his wife and two daughters in England.
British prosecutors authorised three murder charges against Tshuma over the deaths of Nothabo Zandile Tshuma, 42, Natalie, 15, and Nala, 5.
Chief Crown Prosecutor Emma Davies said the Crown Prosecution Service authorised the charges after reviewing evidence from Bedfordshire Police.
Police found the three at their family home in Great Denham, near Bedford, on July 7 after relatives raised concerns about their welfare.
Tshuma has not entered pleas to the British charges, and no court has convicted him.
South African police arrested Tshuma in the Johannesburg suburb of Kensington on July 10 during an operation involving Interpol and several police units.
“This arrest demonstrates that South Africa is not a haven for fugitives,” said Lt. Gen. Puleng Dimpane, South Africa’s acting national police commissioner.
South African prosecutors also accuse Tshuma of possessing an unlicensed 9 mm firearm and ammunition when officers arrested him.
Tshuma abandoned his bail application in the firearm case last month and remains in custody.
Authorities had scheduled Thursday’s hearing to address the firearm investigation and Britain’s extradition request.
Britain and South Africa have an extradition treaty, but South African courts must approve any transfer.
Police have said Tshuma must first face the firearm case and serve any sentence a South African court imposes if it convicts him.
The deaths prompted an outpouring of grief in Britain and Zimbabwe, where relatives buried the mother and her daughters in Bulawayo this month.
Bedford Girls’ School headmistress Gemma Gibson said Natalie “had a positive impact on everyone she came into contact with.”
Pilgrims Pre Prep School headteacher Jo Webster said Nala “brought warmth and happiness wherever she went.”
South African authorities continue processing the extradition request, and the court had not announced Thursday’s outcome at the time of publication
