Ndodana Tshuma, a father wanted in the United Kingdom, is due back in the Johannesburg Magistrates' Court on Thursday on charges of illegal immigration and possession of an unlicensed firearm, according to published reports. He is accused of entering South Africa unlawfully in July. He is presumed innocent of all charges.
Published reports say he is also accused of murdering his wife and their two daughters at the family's home in Bedfordshire, England. The children are not named in this article. Those allegations have not been tested in any court that we have seen reported, and the UK charge status needs a second confirmation.
The South African charges
The two charges before the Johannesburg court are illegal immigration and possession of an unlicensed firearm. At his previous hearing, Tshuma was due to confirm a plea deal, but he told his lawyer he could not recall signing the document, according to published reports. The case was then postponed to this week. The terms of any plea arrangement have not been made public.
The extradition question
The UK's Crown Prosecution Service is waiting for him, according to published reports. His extradition has been on hold until the South African charges are resolved, so the outcome of today's hearing and any plea will shape how soon he could be sent to the UK. Reports say extradition may be addressed at today's hearing, but that is not confirmed.
What we do not yet know
We do not know what happened in court today, whether a plea will be entered, or when an extradition could take place.
