CAPE TOWN – The murder case against two suspects accused of killing a 16-year-old LGBTQI+ community member has been postponed until Thursday, 7 May, for further investigation. The postponement was announced during Thursday’s hearing at the Khayelitsha Magistrate’s Court.
Aphelele Holoshe and Lona Awuwa are facing charges in connection with the brutal murder of Kwakhanya Ntlanganiso, who was 16 years old when he was killed in December last year.
Kwakhanya’s body was discovered between shacks at BT informal settlement in Site C on Thursday, December 4. The teenager, who was a member of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersexual (LGBTQI+) community, had suffered severe injuries including gouged-out eyes and head trauma. Bricks were found near his severely injured head, and his abdomen was partially burnt (‘Bludgeoned to death’, City Vision, 11 December 2025).
Magistrate Brendale Abrahams from Khayelitsha Magistrate’s Court confirmed that both accused have chosen not to apply for bail. “Their next appearance will be on Thursday, 7 May, and their case will be conducted via television link. They won’t be present in the courtroom as usual,” Abrahams stated.
Lesbian activist and founder of Free Gender, Funeka Soldaat, expressed satisfaction that the suspects remain in custody. Free Gender is a non-profit organisation that advocates for the rights and safety of black lesbians in townships.
Soldaat has committed to monitoring the case until its conclusion. “We will oversee all court proceedings. This might be a tactic by the court to make us lose interest in the case. Once the magistrate sees that we’re no longer attending in numbers, they might rush to a verdict. We need to be strategic and think ahead,” she said.
Soldaat has characterised the case as a hate crime, highlighting the ongoing violence faced by LGBTQI+ individuals in South African communities.
You must be logged in to post a comment.