Outrage in Khayelitsha as Couple Accused of Killing 7-Year-Old Lolitha Kowa Returns to Court

A case that has gripped the nation is back before the Khayelitsha Magistrate’s Court, and the community says it will not rest until justice is done.

Khayelitsha, still reeling from the brutal death of 7-year-old Lolitha Kowa, is bracing for another emotionally charged day in court. The couple accused of her rape and murder, Odwa Jack and Nokuthula Matyeseni, is due to appear before the magistrate again on Friday morning.

The horror began on 22 July, when Lolitha a bright little girl from Kuyasa was last seen with Matyeseni’s daughter shortly after returning from school. She had changed out of her uniform and told her mother she was going to play at a nearby house, just a few metres away. That was the last time her family saw her alive.

The search that ended in heartbreak

When Lolitha didn’t come home, her mother and concerned neighbours went to the accused’s house to look for her, but they say the couple refused to open the door. The family turned to police for help, but were allegedly told there was no available patrol van.

The next morning, their worst fears were realised. A photo circulated showing Lolitha’s lifeless body. She was found on Nambuzane Street, her tiny frame covered with clothes, a sock stuffed into her mouth, and a screwdriver lodged in her skull. The post-mortem revealed she had fought fiercely against her attackers, sustaining defensive wounds on her hands.

Community anger spills into the streets

Last week, the court heard that the accused’s home had been set alight after the incident, leaving them without a place to stay. The prosecutor argued they were a flight risk and should remain behind bars. The defence countered, claiming the pair had an alternative address.

But outside the court, the community’s message was clear: there is no place in Khayelitsha for people accused of such crimes. Hundreds of residents, joined by activists, sang protest songs and carried placards demanding the court deny bail.

For many in Khayelitsha, this case is about more than one child, it’s about a justice system that often fails victims of gender-based violence and child abuse. The protests echo a wider national frustration, as South Africa continues to grapple with staggering levels of violent crime against women and children.

A nation watching

Cases like Lolitha’s hit deep because they strip away the illusion of safety for families. The idea that a child could be harmed so close to home by people known to her, has shaken the community to its core.

Friday’s court appearance is expected to draw another large crowd, with activists vowing to keep the pressure on the justice system until the case is concluded.

As one local resident put it outside the courthouse last week: “We are here for Lolitha, but we are also here for every child who never got justice. We will not stop until the law protects our children the way it should.”

{Source: IOL}

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