A South African rural community is reeling after a beloved lesbian couple was gunned down execution-style outside their families' homes late last month.
Nombulelo Bhixa, 28, and Minenhle Ngcobo, 22, were getting into a taxi when they were reportedly approached by a man who is allegedly one of the women's ex-boyfriends and the father of her child.
The women were in the KwaDambuza community in Edendale, where their families lived, on the evening of August 27, reported Newzroom Afrika and The Witness.
Edendale is a township in Msunduzi, a local municipality near Pietermaritzburg, the capital of the KwaZulu-Natal province. Pietermaritzburg is around a six-hour drive southwest of Johannesburg, South Africa's capital.
An unidentified neighbor who witnessed the incident told The Witness that she saw the man, whom she did not recognize, but believed one of the women knew him. She saw the women get into an altercation with the man before he shot them both in the head. The two women died at the scene.
The Witness reported the man previously harassed the couple. Newzroom Afrika reported one of the victims filed a restraining order against her ex-boyfriend after he allegedly assaulted her and broke her arm.
According to media reports, it is believed the ex-boyfriend could not accept that his ex-girlfriend was now in a relationship with a woman, reported Newzroom Afrika.
Police spokesperson Sergeant Sifiso Gwala confirmed the case is still being investigated. No arrest has been made, and a motive for the killings has not been released, reported The Witness.
"We are following up on leads and appealing to the community to come forward with any information that may assist in the investigation," Gwala said.
Shocked community
The couple's brutal killing shocked the community.
Newzroom Afrika reported from the spot where the Bhixa and Ngcobo were gunned down after speaking with the victims' families. Speaking with Bhixa's and Ngcobo's families' "emotions were extremely high" and they "just cannot accept this particular tragedy has actually occurred in that particular household," the outlet reported.
Bongekile Mkhize, Bhixa's best friend since 2009, described her "as a people's person" to The Witness, and said that the couple "were very much in love with each other."
"We are shocked and heartbroken by this senseless tragedy," Mkhize said, adding that she is "hurt about what has happened" and is mystified "that no one is giving us proper answers as to what happened," the outlet reported.
The couple worked together at a store in the city center, reported The Witness.
KwaDambuza's community has come together to mourn the loss of the couple and to condemn their killings.
"What has happened is not something that we are taking lightly as a community," said Sanele Zuma, the councilor for Ward 11 (Newtown, Tafuleni), according to The Witness. "It is shocking to us that there are people who still lose their lives just because of their sexual orientation."
Zuma noted that the killings capped off South Africa's Women's Month, which is celebrated in August.
Call for action
Uthingo Network, a Pietermaritzburg-based LGBTQ group, condemned the couple's deaths in a September 3 statement posted on Facebook.
The group called the killings "horrific."
"This brutal act highlights the deep-seated homophobia and violence that persists in South Africa, especially in rural areas where LGBTI+ individuals are often marginalized and under-protected," the group stated.
Uthingo Network called out the "systematic lack of awareness and understanding in these communities" that "contributes" to the frequency of hate crimes against LGBTQ people "with little consequence."
The group continued, pointing to revictimization, which silences victims "who seek justice, ... perpetuating a dangerous cycle of violence and impunity."
Leoni Chamane, director of the South African transgender organization Iphimbo Lothingo (Ilora), told The Witness that "there has been a surge in attacks on people in the LGBTQI+ community" in Edendale. Yet, there is a dearth of concrete evidence and action by authorities and organizations, Chamane added.
"The government still does not include members of the LGBTQI+ in statistics about gender-based violence," Chamane said. "Awareness programs are non-existent."
Chamane echoed Uthingo Network's statement of revictimization by police by those who come forward.
"When reported, they normally face secondary victimization from law enforcement," said Chamane.
Uthingo Network called for action from the government, community, and individuals to stand against hate.
They called for the entire community to "stand together against all forms of hatred and violence, working towards a future where no one is targeted for who they are or who they love."
Uthingo Network also called for "comprehensive action at all levels, including more vigorous enforcement of hate crimes laws, training of law enforcement on LGBTQ+ issues, and community-based education programs to challenge harmful prejudices."
Got international LGBTQ news tips? Call or send them to Heather Cassell at WhatsApp/Signal: 415-517-7239, or [email protected]
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