Khayelitsha lesbian stabbed to death in suspected hate crime

THE LGBTQI+ community suffered another suspected hate crime when Phelokazi Ndlwana was stabbed and killed in Khayelitsha.

Her murder came just a day after 22-year-old Lonwabo Jack, who was killed, allegedly for being gay, was laid to rest at the weekend.

The family and friends of 24-year-old Ndlwana believe she was attacked in Site C early on Sunday morning due to her living openly as a lesbian.

Police spokesperson André Traut said a 39-year-old man was arrested on Monday morning in connection with Ndlwana’s murder.

“Khayelitsha police received a call to attend to a crime … that took place in Mzoxolo Street.

“On their arrival they were directed by the community to the body of a female who succumbed to death from what appeared to be stab wounds to the chest area.

“Police detectives followed up on leads that they received and later arrested a suspect who is currently in custody,” said Traut.

Ndlwana’s murder came just a few weeks after Jack’s lifeless body was discovered in a pool of blood with stab wounds in Mau-mau, Nyanga East.

It is believed he was raped and killed for being gay. A 17-year-old was arrested for his murder.

According to her cousin, Thembalakhe Balele, Ndlwana had been in a shebeen opposite her house.

“Phelokazi’s friends said she went outside, as if she was going to return quickly, but she took longer. They got worried and checked for her outside, and found her in a pool of blood. They saw the suspect walking away, carrying a knife.

“I received their call around 1am and drove from Litha Park to there. Unfortunately she died at the scene. Her body was covered by police, and when checked, she had a stab wound below her breast on the left side. I still can’t believe she is gone,” said Balele.

Balele said he grew up with Ndlwana.

They had always had a good relationship. “She never started fights with people and was loved by many. We believe this must have been a hate crime, and call for justice,” Balele said.

The Congress of South African Students’s acting provincial chairperson, Zandile Matyeni, said the organisation was devastated by the untimely death of Ndlwana, its former provincial treasurer. “We are deeply saddened by the passing of a leader who stood firm in advocating for the LGBTQI+ community. Like a candle, she burnt herself for the benefit of others. Indeed she did not die, but she multiplied,” said Matyeni.

She said the organisation would continue to celebrate Ndlwana’s life and would communicate arrangements for a memorial service after visiting the family.

Funeka Soldaat, who has been an LGBTQI+ activist for more than three decades, called for improved government anti gender-based violence strategies to curb hate crimes and homophobic attacks. “The problem is it’s mainly NGOs who try to make a noise about these incidents and educate our communities. We need more resources to be provided to educate (communities) and deal with this scourge,” said Soldaat.

She said sometimes hate crime cases took time to reach the courts, but she was pleased the case relating to 16-year-old Liyabona Mabishi’s murder would be heard in the Western Cape High Court on June 11.

Liyabona, from Nkanini in Stellenbosch, was stabbed to death last year on Human Rights Day, for allegedly being openly lesbian.

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Of SA’s Frank Gazu said the organisation was angered by yet another murder. “We live in a democratic society where we expect people to be more accepting. We again call on the government to finalise the implementation of the Prevention and Combating Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill B9 of 2018. It will not solve all of our problems but it’s a start,” said Gazu.

Anyone with information about the crime can anonymously contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111, or SMS Crime Line on 32211.