Yesterday marked two years since 10-year-old Lihle Zenzile was brutally raped and killed. In September of 2024, her killer was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder and rape. Her case was one of Action Society’s most challenging ones, and we are glad to have brought her family and community some closure.
The 10-year-old girl from Mbekweni in Paarl, was killed on January 6, 2023 by a close member of her family who was living in the same house as them. She went missing and after a lengthy search, her killer handed himself over to the police and indicated where her body was hidden. Forensic tests later revealed that he strangled her to death in a bathtub.
Her killer showed very little remorse as he received his sentencing in court. The pathologist testified that Lihle had been sexually abused before she was murdered, and the magistrate said that sexual offenders like him should be taken out of society.
“The victory in Lihle’s case was a testament to the power of not losing hope in a case and believing in justice. In 2024 (and previous years) we saw numerous similar cases being postponed countless times with no progress made. In some cases, justice feels like a pipedream, and it is our goal to try and change this tragic trend. We believe that 2025 will bring many such victories to the countless victims of gender based violence that suffer in South Africa everyday,” said Action Society’s Kaylynn Palm.
