A man accused of killing a Khayelitsha woman on her 21st birthday will remain in custody until he applies for bail next month.

Monwabisi Mbombo, 23, a magician and entertainer by trade, applied for legal aid at his appearance in the Khayelitsha Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.

At his previous appearance, he indicated he would be paying for his own legal representation.

Mbombo was charged with killing Anelisa Dulase, who was missing for three months before her corpse was recovered earlier in May.

According to the State, Dulase and the accused got into an argument on the night of her party and witnesses reported that he had assaulted her.

Aspiring actress

Her buried body was discovered just before concrete for a planned block of flats was to be laid in Makhaza.

The site where her body, with hands bound, was found is next door to the suspect’s home.

Anelisa was a drama student who had been planning to return to Wits University to complete her studies after financial difficulties forced her to drop out.

Her mother Vathiswa Dulaze previously told News24 she finally had closure after her daughter’s body was found.

The accused had gone to primary school with her daughter, Vathiswa said, adding that Anelisa and her friends knew him “very well”.

She was in court to see him at his last appearance.

On Tuesday, posters were laid across pillars outside court stating “bail must fall” and “enough is enough”.