No Arrests, No Answers – Just Silence: One Year Since Imam Muhsin Hendricks’ Murder

One year since Imam Muhsin Hendricks was gunned down in cold blood in Gqeberha, South Africa. One year since a queer Muslim leader who built bridges between faith and identity was killed in an act that shocked the country and reverberated across the world.

And one year later — despite video footage of the 15 February 2025 assassination — there have been no arrests. No public breakthroughs. No visible accountability.

For South Africa’s LGBTQIA+ community, this anniversary is not simply about remembrance. It is about fear. It is about frustration. It is about what silence does to a community already navigating hostility and hate.

Last year, around this time, the murder of Imam Muhsin did more than take a life. It destabilised a fragile sense of safety. It reminded queer Muslims and many queer South Africans, that visibility can come at a cost.

One year later, that fear lingers.

A Foundation Left in the Dark

The Board of the Al-Ghurbaah Foundation, the organisation Imam Hendricks led, says they have received no direct engagement from authorities regarding the investigation.

“Following Imam Muhsin’s passing, we have received absolutely no communication or engagement from government officials, religious bodies, or law enforcement authorities regarding any part of the investigation. No one in these sectors has reached out to us, and we remain just as blind to the progress or findings of the case as we were on the day he was murdered.”

Twelve months later, they say the silence is painful.

“This lack of response is deeply frustrating and painful for our organisation and the community we serve. It reinforces the dangerous idea that it is acceptable to kill queer Muslims and that it is acceptable to celebrate the death of a life.”

For a community already balancing faith and marginalisation, the message they fear is that this send is chilling.

“It highlights the urgent need for accountability, and the importance of continuing Imam Muhsin’s work to create safe, inclusive, and compassionate spaces for queer Muslims.”

MambaOnline Seeks Answers

As the one-year anniversary approached, MambaOnline reached out to the South African Police Service (SAPS), the National Task Team (NTT) on Gender and Sexual Orientation-Based Violence, and the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DOJCD) for clarity on the status of the case. Their responses gave us little comfort.

SAPS: Investigation Still “Active and Ongoing”

SAPS confirmed in a statement to MambaOnline that the case remains open:

“The Nelson Mandela Bay District Detective Intervention Task Team confirms that the investigation into the murder of Muhsin Hendriks remains active and ongoing.”

They noted that progress depends on forensic processes:

“Progress is currently dependent on the completion of outstanding forensic and specialist reports. The investigating officer awaits these results to advance the case decisively.”

Regarding video evidence:

“While video footage of the incident exists, its utility is undergoing legal processes, so as to avoid unintended ramifications.”

SAPS also confirmed that no recent updates have been provided to the family:

“The investigating detective has not provided recent updates to the family, as there are no substantial new developments to report at this stage. The team remains committed to resolving the case and will engage with the family once there is concrete progress to share.”

For many in the queer community, the phrase “no substantial new developments” is difficult to reconcile with the gravity of the crime and the time that has passed.

National Task Team: Monitoring, Not Taking Action

When asked why the National Task Team had not issued a public comment to date nor taken a stance on the matter, the NTT stated:

“The investigation of the matter is ongoing, as undertaken by the South African Police Service (SAPS). Further details regarding the investigation may be sought from SAPS. However, it must be noted that DOJCD is not mandated to investigate criminal matters, this lies solely within the purview of SAPS. Prosecution of the cases rests solely with the NPA, and the adjudication of matters rests solely with the courts.”

While, of course, there is no expectation that the NTT investigates the case, there is the expectation that it speaks out and demands action when state bodies are failing to deliver justice to queer South Africans. That is why it was first established.

Regarding its specific role, the NTT said:

“The DOJCD through its Rapid Response Team, is monitoring the progress of the Muhsin Hendricks case. As this is an ongoing investigation, it is not within the mandate of the DOJCD or the NTT to provide updates at this stage. The SAPS remain the lead authority and is best placed to communicate any developments.”

On engagement with the family and affected communities, the NTT responded:

“The PTT continues to provide local support, with substantial assistance from partner CSOs that possess the requisite skills, capacity, and experience to render such services and have been actively doing so. In the interest of safeguarding the family’s confidentiality and privacy, the NTT is unable to share further details at this time.”

This response is deeply disappointing in its vagueness. While the Task Team emphasises its monitoring role, for many observers the distinction between monitoring and visible action feels increasingly stark.

In light of its silence about the unacceptable delays in the Muhsin Hendricks investigation, questions must be asked about the relevance and effectiveness of the NTT in its primary role of addressing LGBTQ+ hate and violence.

Department of Justice: Condemnation Reiterated

The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development reiterated its condemnation of the murder but had little else to offer:

“The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development again wishes to unequivocally condemn the horrific murder of Imam Hendricks.”

It further stated:

“We view the safety and well-being of LGBTIQA+ individuals as an absolute priority, and we stand firmly against any form of gender-based violence.”

However, it noted that investigative details cannot be shared while the matter remains active.

The Unanswered Questions

Twelve months later, the central questions remain:

Who is responsible?

Why has no arrest been made?

When will there be meaningful progress?

What reassurance can authorities offer to queer communities living in fear?

A year later, that blindness feels heavier.

For queer Muslims, the anniversary is particularly heavy. Imam Hendricks was not only a religious leader; he was proof that faith and queerness could coexist openly and unapologetically. His assassination felt like an attack not just on a person, but on possibility itself.

When a high-profile case remains unresolved, it sends a message, even if unintended. It leaves communities asking whether urgency is applied equally. It forces them to confront the uncomfortable fear that some lives may be treated as less urgent than others.

Justice delayed does not only deny closure. It erodes confidence in systems meant to protect.

The fear has not disappeared.

The frustration has not softened.

The silence has grown louder.

And until there is accountability, the question remains: If justice does not arrive for a high-profile and internationally recognised figure like Imam Muhsin Hendricks, what does that mean for the rest of us?