Seven-year-old Lolitha Kowa, whose body was found dumped near her home.
(The Post News)- Two murder suspects are making their first appearance at the Khayelitsha Magistrates Court in connection with the murder of seven-year-old Lolitha Kowa.
Kowa’s body was found dumped in Nambuzane Street near her home. She went missing on Tuesday, and her body was discovered on Wednesday morning.
Community members are marched to the Khayelitsha Magistrates Court as the two suspects appear today, chanting and singing outside the court in support of the seven-year-old’s family.
Speaking to eNCA outside court, community leader Lonwabo Mqina said they were there to show solidarity with the family.
“In our communities, we don’t have any space for crime. We unite as the community of Ward 99 and the broader Khayelitsha to fight against it. We are deeply concerned about the ongoing violence in our area, and we believe that if we are united as a community, we can fight crime,” said Mqina.
Democratic Alliance Member of Parliament Ian Cameron is among those attending the court hearing. In a Facebook post, he said,
“This child’s life was stolen in the most violent way imaginable.”
Ilitha Labantu, a gender-based violence advocacy organisation, also raised concerns over the increasing levels of crime in communities. Communications manager Siyabulela Monakali said the circumstances surrounding Lolitha’s killing are not isolated, but part of a growing trend of violence against children in South Africa.
“We cannot claim to be making any real progress as a nation until children are safe and free from all forms of violence,” said Monakali.
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