Four Years On: Gay Man’s Family Hopes for Justice in Suspected Hate Crime Murder

Four years after Zimasile Shabangu was brutally stabbed to death in a suspected homophobic hate crime in Johannesburg, his alleged killer is finally set to stand trial.

On the 3rd of October 2021, 36-year-old Zimasile — who identified as gay — went out for a night of socialising in the South of Johannesburg with his visiting sister, Zubaida Shabangu, and several friends.

As the COVID-19 curfew approached, Zimasile and Zubaida feared they might not get back to Zimasile’s home in Midrand in time. A friend of a friend they met suggested they drive to his residence in Northriding to wait out the curfew there.

According to Zubaida, at the man’s home he repeatedly taunted Zimasile because of his sexuality. At some point in the early morning, Zubaida awoke on the couch to the sound of an altercation between her brother and their host over a mobile phone.

When they tried to leave, the man allegedly became violent, slapping Zubaida and then stabbing Zimasile, who collapsed. He was rushed to hospital but did not survive the attack.

Delayed Justice

The trial of the alleged murderer is scheduled to begin on 15 December at the Randburg Magistrates’ Court, giving the family renewed hope for justice and some sense of closure after years of uncertainty.

“It’s been four long years since our hearts were shattered — the day we lost our brother, our son, our friend, Zimasile,” said the family in a statement.

They described him as “a bright, hardworking, and deeply spiritual family man,” adding that “he was on the verge of his dream job at Transnet while preparing to build his parents their dream farmhouse in Heidelberg. His life was full of promise, his heart full of purpose — and his loss left a silence we still feel every single day.”

“We Were Left in the Dark”

Zubaida, who lives in Cape Town with her family, told MambaOnline that she hopes to raise awareness about the upcoming trial to ensure that public attention helps her brother finally receive justice.

“After four years of waiting and unanswered questions, his murder case has finally resurfaced. This is our moment to stand again — for truth, justice, and accountability,” said the family.

Zubaida expressed deep frustration over the delays, saying that the family had endured years of confusion and poor communication from the police.

“In between, we had no answers. We were sent from pillar to post and then told that another investigator was handling the case, so they had to come back to Cape Town to get statements from us again,” she said.

She added that there was “no proper explanation” for the delays. “We weren’t kept in the loop — we just didn’t know what was going on. We constantly had to call the SAPS office ourselves.”

A Call for Public Support

The case is being seen as a possible hate crime as it appears that the Zimasile’s sexuality may have played a role in his murder.

Zubaida and her family have urged his friends, community members, and allies to show their support by attending the court proceedings at the Randburg Magistrates’ Court on 15  December.

“We call on everyone who knew him, who loved him, who believes in fairness and justice — to stand with us and make sure his story is not forgotten,” they said. “Let’s remind the world that Zimasile’s life mattered — that we will not rest until justice is served.”