The case against the 18-year-old alleged killer of queer teenager Kwakhanya Mhlanganisi has been postponed to the 7th of January, 2026 by the Khayelitsha Magistrates Court.
On the 17th of December, community members, civil society organisations and loved ones gathered outside the court to support Kwakhanya Mhlanganisi’s family.
The 16-year-old Mhlanganisi was murdered in a suspected hate crime on the night of the 3rd of December, when he was reportedly beaten and set alight by two individuals.
A suspect arrested in connection with the murder appeared in court on Wednesday, only to have the case postponed for the second time this month.
The suspect was initially scheduled to appear in court on the 10th of December, but upon learning that he would be turning 18 on the 16th of December, the court postponed the matter to the 17th of December so that he could be tried as an adult.
According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), there is a possible second suspect who is still at large and has yet to be arrested.
Kwakhanya’s father, Sicelo Ntlanganiso, spoke to MambaOnline about his frustration over the court’s seeming lack of urgency ahead of his son’s upcoming funeral in the Eastern Cape.
“I’m not happy today, because I must still go bury my son on Friday”, Ntlanganiso said. “Now I must wait for the 7th. I don’t know what is going to happen, if it’s going to be the same story. I thought court was going to make me happy today. That’s why I came today and didn’t leave this morning [for the Eastern Cape]. Now I must still go bury my son on Friday.”
The frustration with the lack of communication and delays regarding justice for Mhlanganisi is shared by community activists.
Sibusiso Nqunqeka of Khulani Khayelitsha Queer Hub also expressed his dissatisfaction with a statement about Mhlanganisi’s murder from the SAPS. In it, police criticised speculation that homophobia was behind the motive for the brutal killing.
“The case remains under investigation, and the exact motive will be determined as the matter progresses,” said the SAPS on X.
Nqunqeka told MambaOnline, “… the fact that they [SAPS] published a post saying this is not a hate crime without even investigating it or asking anybody around, because even the father can tell [them].”
He alleged that, “When they were killing him [Mhlanganisi], they were saying ‘stabane’, ‘moffie’, those kinds of words, and yet the SAPS has the audacity to say this is not a hate crime, this is a hate crime.”
Nqunqeka believes that the SAPS was dismissive of the circumstances of the case.
“Many [hate crime] cases are not reported because people are scared of going to the SAPS itself because they know they are going to be judged at the SAPS,” he said. “It is very important to not issue statements [regarding potential hate crimes] without even contacting LGBTI stakeholders.”
A memorial service to honour the slain teen’s life, attended by Mhlanganisi’s parents and community members, was held at the Intlanganiso Secondary School in Khayelitsha on Tuesday.
The Khulani Khayelitsha Queer Hub is one of the community organisations supporting Kwakhanya’s family in this difficult period and is in need of material support in anticipation for the rescheduled court date. If you are willing and able to donate, Sibusiso Nqunqeka’s banking details are listed below:
Name: Sibusiso D Nqunqeka
Account Type: Savings
Account Number: 1214854220
Bank Name: Capitec
Branch Code: 470010
