Free Gender activists made their voices heard when they marched through the streets of Mfuleni to the Blue Downs Police Station to seek justice in homophobic cases.
The march, on Saturday 28 May, was attended by the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex, Asexual (LGBTQIA+) organisations and partners.
The marchers raised their concerns about the case of Mpho Msila, who was stabbed to death in Mfuleni in October last year.
They claimed that there had been no progress regarding the case even though there were people who witnessed the incident.
Tsidi Mzondi, partner of Msila, told City Vision that the deceased was stabbed and sustained one hole in the heart.
Apparently, she was in a group of people when the incident occurred but the suspect is yet to be arrested. “To date, we have been waiting on police to investigate this case thoroughly and arrest the culprit. I am not happy at all with the progress of this case, and it is difficult for me to get a closure on this matter,” she said.
Mzondi said she has lost trust in the police as she felt they were not doing their job properly. “Ever since her demise, I have not been coping at all. It always feels like she will just walk in, it has not sunk in me that I will never see her again in my life,” said Mzondi.
During the march, hate crime victims were also remembered as part of Khumbulani Pride campaign.
Khumbulani Pride is designed to give special recognition to victims of homophobic violence and other hate crimes nationwide.
Velisa Jara, Free Gender member, told City Vision that nine years after the establishment of the campaign rape and discrimination towards LGBTQIA+ members prevailed.
She believes they have, however, changed some mindsets, especially police when dealing with LGBTQIA+ cases. “We want police to bring to book the suspect in the case of Msila. All homophobic cases must receive a special attention, and we want this man arrested,” she said.
Jara said the suspect was walking freely on the street while he was known to have committed the murder.
W/O November Filander, Mfuleni police spokesperson, said the case is in its developing stage, and that no suspect has been arrested as yet.