There’s deep frustration as the bail hearing of the alleged 18-year-old killer of queer teenager Kwakhanya Mhlanganisi is again postponed by the Khayelitsha Magistrates Court. The court cited a change in the investigating officer and, alarmingly, confusion over the location of the case docket for the postponement.
On the 7th of January, 2026, community members, civil societies and loved ones gathered at the Khayelitsha Magistrates Court in support of Kwakhanya Mhlanganisi’s family during the ongoing court case against his alleged murderer.
The bail hearing did not proceed due to officials being unable to locate the case docket, either at the court or Khayelitsha Police Station.
The case was also assigned a new investigating officer over the festive season. The bail hearing is now set to continue on the 15th of January.
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. The second suspect has yet to be arrested.
This is the third postponement of the ongoing case. The suspect was initially scheduled to appear in court last year 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.
The case was then postponed by the court for a second time on the 17th of December, 2025, with investigators citing the need for more evidence to be able to proceed.
Wednesday’s postponement was met with frustration by loved ones, community members and activists. MambaOnline spoke to long-time queer activist and founder of Free Gender, Funeka Soldaat, about the court’s continued delays.
“It’s really disturbing,” Soldaat emphasised. “It’s simple things that are supposed to happen. If you know there’s a court date, the docket has to be there. It’s really disappointing when you are fighting for justice, and then you get this. Really, it’s hurting,” Soldaat added.
In the face of delayed action from the court, Soldaat affirmed that civil society organisations like Free Gender will continue to push for accountability.
Soldaat explained, “… today we will go to the Senior Prosecutor and get the progress, and tomorrow we will go to the police station and find out where is the delay.”
They added: “When we go on the 15th, everything that the magistrate is expecting has to be there.”
