Still no arrests a year on in slain imam Muhsin Hendricks’ case

The world’s first openly gay imam, Muhsin Hendricks. Picture: X/@NMukherjee6 There are still many unanswered questions one year after Imam Muhsin Hendricks, who was SA’s first openly gay imam, was shot in cold blood in Bethelsdorp, Eastern Cape, on 15 February, 2025. Security footage shared online shows a silver Hilux double cab blocking Hendricks while he sat in his VW T-Roc.

A man, appearing to wear a hoodie, jumped out of the Hilux, ran to his car, and fired multiple shots into the vehicle. He then ran back to the Hilux, which sped away. The chilling crime sent shockwaves through the country and around the world.

Police have still made no arrests, fueling fears for queer communities that authorities are mishandling LGBTQI+ cases. On Wednesday, police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Siphokazi Mawisa confirmed toThe Citizenthat the case remains open. “We confirm that the investigation into the murder of Muhsin Hendriks remains active and is being rigorously pursued by our detectives.” This update contradicts what Deputy MinisterAndries Nel initially saidtwo days after the murder.

[paywall]

He claimed police were ‘hot on the heels’ of the killers, but the investigation has since stalled. Mawisa did not provideThe Citizenwith the progress on potential leads and video evidence analysis.

[/paywall]