Skeem Saam star’s dad to spend Xmas in jail!

THE father of Skeem Saam actress Amanda Manku will end the year in custody.

His trial date is set for 10 February 2025 to 21 February 2025 in the Polokwane High Court, Limpopo.

William Manku (53) and his co-accused, David Khoza (40), were arrested in January for the alleged murder of his wife, Gladys Manku (45), and mother-in-law, Letty Maphothoma (70).

The two were shot dead in May 2021 on their way home after fetching water.

William and David face charges of conspiracy to commit murder, robbery with aggravated circumstances, attempted murder, two counts of murder, and defeating the ends of justice.

The former SAPS officer has been denied bail three times.

During his first bail application, the investigating officer, whose name cannot be named, said that William had confessed after his arrest.

In his confession, William said he didn't intend to murder his wife, only his mother-in-law.

"He said that he hired a man who knew other people. They drove with two cars to Limpopo from Gauteng so he could show them where his mother-in-law was staying so they could kill her," the investigating officer said.

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She said they returned home, and the men went back to Limpopo on their own to commit the crime.

William also said that he requested bail to help his struggling kids.

He said his two kids needed financial support, but the court denied him bail.

During the bail application, one of William's lawyers noted that Amanda and her father were not on speaking terms.

In a recent interview with actress Pasi Koetle, Amanda expressed how she felt about the death of her mum and gogo.

"When you lose your mother, it's something else worse, both mother and grandmother at the same time. I was angry and would shout in my prayers, and I couldn't listen to gospel music because it didn't make sense to me," she said.

Amanda said it's one of the things that are hard to get over.

"My father was my best friend. He was my pillar of strength, and this is the man who is arrested for the murder of my mum. I had perfect parents, including my father. They had me when they were young, and it was a perfect love story, but Satan doesn't like beautiful things," she said.