The Nyanga man who was stabbed to death on his birthday was also raped, and it’s because he was gay, it was alleged yesterday.
Residents are now seeking justice for Lonwabo Jack who was killed while celebrating his 22nd birthday on Saturday.
His lifeless body was discovered the following morning on a pavement in Pula Road, Mau Mau, Nyanga East. He had been stabbed in the chest.
Activist for Justice for Lonwabo Campaign Thulani Pike said yesterday they were shocked to learn that Jack had been sexually assaulted before his death.
Labelling it a “hate crime”, he said: “The community of Nyanga East on Sunday morning wake up to the shocking news of the gruesome rape and murder of an LGBT member Lonwabo Nolte Jack.
“The half naked body of Lonwabo was discovered after the main suspect alerted his friends at a hokkie in Owen Road.
“The suspect is the same person who took Lonwabo from his friends and the last person who was last seen with Lonwabo, while he was still alive.”
But although the community has fingered a suspect, police spokeswoman Noloyiso Rwexana says no arrests have been made yet.
Meanwhile, residents have been posting the picture of the teen suspect on Facebook, saying he is on the run.
Pike and other activists have been mobilising the Nyanga community to march to the local police station today under the theme #JusticeforLonwabo.
“We will be embarking on a number of awareness campaigns around crime, gay rights and Black Lives Matter,” he explains.
“We as Nyanga people feel that our government has neglected to address the main challenges facing Nyanga for too long as this is not the first or the last incident of violent hate crime in our area, but little has been done to change the status quo.”
They also plan to hand over a memorandum at the Philippi Magistrates’ Court.
mandilakhe.tshwete@inl.co.za