Siphokazi Booi’s murder was possibly one of the most gruesome stories to ever make the news headlines in South Africa. The brutal nature of her murder can only be compared to scenes in a slaughterhouse.
On Saturday, 5 September 2021, two police officers were patrolling the Mbekweni area when a member of the community approached them and told them about a body they found behind a wall. When officers investigated, they found Siphokhazi’s charred and dismembered body in a dustbin at a dump site near the Mbekweni train station. Her body was burnt beyond recognition, and she had to be identified via DNA evidence gathered from her family.
Her boyfriend at the time, Sithobele Qeba, later confessed to killing her after an investigation by the South African Police Service (SAPS). He said he set her body alight after an argument and then paid a man R20 to put her body in a dustbin and discard it at the dumping site. On 23 September 2021, he appeared at the Paarl Magistrates Court for murder. He was denied bail and remains in custody while the wheels of justice seem to have ground to a complete halt. Postponement after postponement has plagued the case for more than two years.
After this court appearance in May 2023, Siphokhazi’s case was postponed yet again. At the time of publication, the next court date was scheduled for 14 December 2023
Apathetic police and a history of abuse:
Like many of the cases Action Society has dealt with, the man who killed Siphokazi had a history of violence and was out on bail. He repeatedly abused and assaulted Siphokazi, and while she lodged various GBV complaints at the police, her complaints fell on deaf ears, and she was ultimately murdered due to the inaction of the police and the justice system’s failure to keep a dangerous repeat offender behind bars.
Our mission:
Siphokazi’s story might seem like an outlier in its brutality, but Action Society has dealt with numerous other cases where the victim was brutalised and permanently stripped of their dignity. Those that are lucky enough to survive the abuse are left emotionally scarred for life, while others are left permanently crippled (both mentally and physically) from their injuries. Action Society will continue to support these victims until justice is served.
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