Waiting for justice that they might never see
Thokozani Qwabe was raped and killed because she was a lesbian. Six years on, her killers still walk free, reports Matthew Savides
TILE Qwabe sees the men charged with killing her sister walking the streets or drinking freely in a neighbouring tavern almost every day — six years after the rape and murder of Thokozani in a barren field in Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal.
The 23-year-old’s battered, bloodsoaked body was found in the veld in Ezakheni township on July 22 2007.
Although the police investigated, arrested and charged the suspects, the two men — who live in the area — still roam the township, often talking about what happened.
The men were charged and appeared in court in February 2010, but were acquitted.
Thokozani’s father, Richard, 57, is still distraught about his child’s death.
“My daughter and I were very close. She was my first-born. She was killed at night and I was told the next morning. My head was upside down and I didn’t know what to think. It was very difficult,” he said.
He said that although he was still battling to come to terms with what had happened to his eldest child, he was resigned to the fact that he might never see justice.
“There were two men in jail, but they are out now. I still struggle. But you can’t do anything about it,” he said, referring to the not-guilty verdict in the Ezakheni Magistrate’s Court.
Tile, Thokozani’s sister, was also at home when she learnt of the killing. The field where her sister’s body was found is just 100m from the house the two of them shared, and Tile often walks through the field to get to and from home.
“A guy knocked on the door. He said there was a lady who had been raped and killed. I went to look and found that it was my sister,” she said.
My daughter and I were very close. She was my first-born. She was killed at night and I was told the next morning. My head was upside down and I didn’t know what to think
On top of losing her sister, Tile was terrified. “I had to leave home and move to another place. The men who did this to her also lived in Ezakheni, so I was afraid that something would also happen to me.”
She has since gone back to the area, but is reminded of her sister’s death every time she sees the men who were acquitted of her murder.
“I see them almost every day. It’s really hard.”
She has been told that when the two men drink at the local tavern, they “just go on talking about this thing”.
Tile believes her sister was targeted because of her sexual orientation.
“It was because she was a lesbian. I don’t think the people who did this to her liked that. ”
But time has healed some of Tile’s wounds.
“In 2007 it was very hard, but it’s getting better now. We are getting used to it. We have had lots of support from friends, especially other lesbians.”