By Buziwe Nocuze
A mural adorns the front wall of Phelokazi Mqathanya’s family home. It serves to honour her memory and draw attention to the injustices faced by the queer community.
The mural, painted by the Free Gender organisation, depicts Phelokazi’s face and serves as a reminder that her killer may still be out there.
Phelokazi, a lesbian woman from Khayelitsha in Cape Town, was stabbed to death on 2 May 2021 allegedly by a man after he had made advances towards her.
The South African justice system added to the heartache of the grieving family and friends with repeated postponements of the case, leaving them to struggle to find closure.
Nozuko Ndlwana, Phelokazi’s sister, spoke about the family’s frustration with the legal system.
“Her killer may possibly be freed but we hope that one day the truth will come out and the killer will finally pay for his sins,” Nozuko said.
“The postponement of Phelokazi’s case more than 15 times is an example of the failure of the justice system to take the murder of a lesbian woman seriously.”
Community activist and Free Gender founder Funeka Soldaat echoed Ndlwana’s sentiments, stating that the state’s failures are contributing to a culture of freedom from punishment among perpetrators of violence.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila explained that the majority of the postponements were due to the accused wanted to make representations to the NPA to withdraw the matter.
“The representations were declined, and the state requested postponements to trace possible witnesses,” said Ntabazalila. He said there were no eyewitnesses to the murder and the court found that the circumstantial evidence presented by the state was not sufficient.
The mural honouring Phelokazi Mqathanya is a powerful testament to the resilience of communities in the face of violence and injustices.
Pictured above: Nozuko Ndlwana, standing next to Phelokazi’s mural painted by the Free Gender organisation and friends
Image source: Buziwe Nocuze
