Members of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer Intersex and others (LGBTQI+) community have denounced the untimely death of Zoliswa Vuthela.
The 32-year-old was gunned down in her house at KwaKhikhi, Gugulethu, on Sunday 13 November. She was reportedly shot three times.
Gugulethu Police Station spokesperson Sgt Sindisiwe Ngqele said a murder case was opened.
“The office can confirm that on Sunday 13 November there was a case of murder that was reported where a woman was allegedly shot and killed by two unknown men. No arrest has been made yet and the case is under investigation,” said Ngqele.
Meanwhile, Sandy Nonzaba, a friend and a member of the LGBTI+, said Zoliswa did not deserve to die the way she did. She described her as a humble person who liked to share jokes.
Nonzaba said, according to a neighbour who was at the house when the incident happened, her late friend was shot and killed inside her bedroom.
She said the witness informed the community that she was gunned down following an altercation with an unidentified man.
“She said when she arrived at the deceased’s house at about 20:00 the deceased was with another man and they were arguing. Zoliswa was demanding the money that the man owed her. The guy was showing Zoliswa his wallet telling her that he doesn’t have any money,” said Nonzaba, adding that the man suggested that they should go to a nearby Somali shop to withdraw the cash.
Nonzaba said on their way out, the pair were accosted by two men who asked to talk to Zoliswa.
“She went back into the house with the two men and the neighbour followed them. When they entered the house, Zoliswa’s neighbour was ordered to sit down and close her eyes and ears,” she said.
The man who initially had an altercation with Zoliswa never returned to the house
Nonzaba said the two men forced Zoliswa into her bedroom. It was at this point that three shots rang out. The neighbour said they heard them talking in the room and later heard three gunshots then the culprits came out and left,” explained Nonzaba
Nonzaba said Zoliswa was shot in the eye, chest and thigh. She believes Zoliswa’s killing was well-orchestrated.
Nonzaba asked why the other man did not follow the trio when they returned to the house if he knew nothing. Following the incident, she claimed Zoliswa’s family tried to phone the man who owed her money, but he hung up the phone on them.
“Earlier on Sunday, Vuthela informed her family about this guy and that he owes her R150. She wrote down his contact numbers. There are speculations that the unknown man is staying at Sweet Home informal settlement in Philippi. When the family members contacted him and asked if he heard that Vuthela was killed he responded and said he heard about it from his uncle. But when the family members asked him why he didn’t come he hung up his phone,” said Nonzaba.
She stated that all they want is for the police to arrest the culprits.
Zoliswa’s body is leaving Cape Town tomorrow (25 November) and will be buried at Willowvale in Eastern Cape on Saturday 26 November.
