The man accused of brutally mutilating and murdering queer Gauteng teenager Likhona Fose in a suspected hate crime has been granted bail, amid concerns about the strength of the state’s case.
Mduduzi Mnisi, 39, appeared in the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday for his bail hearing. He faces charges of premeditated murder and violation of a corpse.
Although Mnisi was granted bail of R5,000 due to insufficient evidence, the court imposed strict conditions. He has been placed under house arrest and is prohibited from contacting any witnesses or members of Likhona’s family.
Criminal History Not Enough to Deny Bail
Magistrate Denise Smith noted that while Mnisi was out on parole for a previous conviction of attempted murder and aggravated robbery at the time of Likhona’s death, this did not provide sufficient grounds to deny him bail.
Mnisi has denied all charges against him. Concerns have been raised that the state’s case largely hinges on a single witness statement alleging that Mnisi was seen with the victim on the day of her murder.
Alibi Raises Questions
In support of his defence, Mnisi’s girlfriend testified in court that he was with her in Daveyton, Ekurhuleni, at the time when Fose went missing and was later killed.
The body of Likhona Fose, who, according to her family, identified as LGBTQ+, was discovered in a field in Durban Deep, Roodepoort, west of Johannesburg on 1 June. She was found naked from the waist down, with her genitalia, nose and eyes removed.
The 14-year-old was a Grade 8 learner at Ikusasalethu Secondary School in Braamfischerville. Her family reported her missing when she failed to return home. She had reportedly last been seen with a group of friends.
Likhona’s horrific killing sparked nationwide outrage and is suspected to be either a hate crime related to her sexual orientation or a muti murder — a ritualistic killing in which body parts are harvested for use in traditional practices.
