Police in the Western Cape have cautioned against what they described as the “irresponsible labelling” of the murder of 16-year-old Kwakhanya Mhlanganisi as homophobic, saying the motive for the crime has not yet been established. In a statement, police said they were concerned about how the killing had been characterised in some media reports. “The South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Western Cape notes with concern the irresponsible labelling of the murder of 16-year-old Kwakhanya Mhlanganisi as homophobic in certain news reports,” they said.
According to police, Mhlanganisi was killed on December 4, in Site C, Khayelitsha, after an altercation with two acquaintances. “He was assaulted and later succumbed to his injuries. A swift investigation by SAPS led to the arrest of a 17-year-old suspect, who has appeared in the Khayelitsha magistrate’s court.” They confirmed that a second suspect remained at large.
What you did is bad, very bad. You killed him already, but you’re still burning him. Police said despite the motive for the murder not yet being known, speculation had already begun circulating publicly.
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“Despite clear communication from SAPS that the motive for the murder has not yet been established, some media reports have suggested that the incident was homophobic in nature. We find it necessary to correct this misinformation to prevent unnecessary alarm within a community already burdened by high levels of violent crime,” they said. They added that the case remained under investigation and the exact motive would be determined as the matter progressed.
Police spokesperson Sgt Wesley Twigg confirmed that Khayelitsha police had opened a murder case after Mhlanganisi’s body was discovered in the early hours of Thursday. “Police members attended the crime scene and found the victim with multiple injuries. The motive for the attack forms part of the investigation. A 17-year-old male was arrested in connection with the incident on Sunday, December 7,” said Twigg.
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