DUDUZILE MURDER SUSPECT IN COURT

A 22-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the horror slaying of 26-year-old lesbian Duduzile Zozo.

Zozo’s body was found in Thokoza, outside of Johannesburg, on Sunday 30 June. She had been raped with a toilet brush and is believed to have been strangled to death.

Her degrading and brutal murder made headlines and drew wide condemnation from government and political parties, including the ANC and the DA.

According to the police, the suspect was arrested in Thokoza on Friday and would appear in court today.

“Police had been following up information since her body was found. Several suspects were arrested for questioning and released,” Lieutenant Colonel Dlamini Lungelo Dlamini said in a statement.

He added that the man “is co-operating with [the] investigation”.

The Forum for the Empowerment of Women (FEW) identified the suspect as Lesley Legowa Motleleng and said that he was arrested just a street away from Zozo’s home.

FEW reported that Motleleng told the Palm Ridge Magistrates’ Court on Monday that he did not want to apply for bail.

Around 30 people, including family, friends, community members and activists, gathered in and outside the court to support Zozo’s family.