Members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and others (LGBTQI+) community picketed outside the Khayelitsha Magistrates’ Court on Monday 5 September, where a man accused of murdering Phelokazi Mqathanya made an appearance.
Irate LGBTQI+ members voiced their dissatisfaction about the slow pace of the case, claiming the killing was “hate crime” based on Mqathanya’s sexual orientation.
Among other organisations, the picket was attended by Free Gender, Equal Education, Triangle Project and United Behind.
Picketers said the gathering was in solidarity with the family and to compel the court to speed up the case against Bongani Ngadleka.
The 39-year-old was arrested soon after the murder of Mqathanya (24). She was stabbed and killed outside her friend’s home in Site C in May last year (“Another grisly murder” City Vision 6 May 2021).
However, according to the members of the LGBTQI+ community the matter has been dragging for long.
They said they want the perpetrator to rot in jail.
Among the organisations that attended the march was Founder of Free Gender Funeka Soldaat said they want the justice to prevail for Mqathanya.
She said the case has been in the court for more than a year and has been postponed more than six times.
“We want the judge to finalise the case as soon as possible.
“The case has been in court for more than a year. They have been dragging it since last year.
“The suspect was arrested just a few days after the incident happened and he is still on trial. We don’t know why the judiciary takes so long to sentence him,” said Soldaat.
She said they believe that Mqathanya’s murder was a hate crime. “She died on the scene,” said Soldaat.
Khayelitsha Police Station commander Brig Mnoneleli Magobiyane said the case has been postponed to Thursday 6 October.