At least 50 residents of Mbekweni gathered in song and protest on the doorstep of the Paarl Regional Court in tribute to Siphokazi Booi, who was murdered.
Led by a joint initiative of Action Society and Mbekweni’s own Imbumba Community Development Projects GBV, a memorandum was also handed over on Thursday 6 April to the regional court’s management to heed the community’s pleas.
While the trial was due to start last week, according to Kaylynn Palm from Action Society, who attended the court proceedings, it did not go as planned since the accused, Sithobele Qebe, requested that his legal representative be changed.
“He no longer wanted Legal Aid to represent him. However, his private lawyer was not present in court today (Thursday 6 April),” she pointed out.
Palm added the state indicated it is ready to proceed and does not need more time or another postponement.
“The prosecutor highlighted the community’s concern for the case and wants it finalised. The magistrate asked Qebe where his private lawyer was, to which he responded he did not know. The magistrate further indicated Qebe had [opportunities] since December last year to make the changes.
“He said it is Qebe’s constitutional right to have a representative, and the opportunities open to him are not unlimited.”
Palm said the magistrate warned Qebe to have his legal representative on the next court date. The case has been postponed to 30 May.
Action Society has been overseeing Booi’s murder case since 2021.
The murder, which took place on 4 September 2021, caused a huge uproar and led to protests in the days that followed.
Her body was dismembered, the body parts placed in a trolley and burnt.
Paarl Post reported that before Booi’s body was discovered a patrolling police vehicle was stopped by community members in Drommedaris Street near Mbekweni Railway Station on 5 September 2021, and a body burnt beyond recognition was pointed out to the officers.
Qebe was arrested in connection with her murder by Mbekweni police and has remained behind bars ever since.
Imbumba’s founder, Bukiwe Lakey, told Paarl Post that the memorandum demanded, among other things, that the court no longer tolerate Qebe’s back-and-forth regarding the issue of his legal representation.
