Khayelitsha Community Relieved as Lolitha Kowa Murder Suspects Drop Bail Bid

The Khayelitsha community breathed a sigh of relief after Odwa Jack and Nokuthula Matyeseni, accused of raping and murdering seven-year-old Lolitha Kowa, abandoned their bail application.

The couple was arrested on 23 July, a day after Kuyasa residents discovered Lolitha’s body just 1.5km from her home.

The crime that shocked a community

Lolitha disappeared on 22 July after returning from school to play with Matyeseni’s daughter. When her mother came looking for her, the accused allegedly refused to open their door.

Prosecutors told the court that while DNA results from a sample taken inside the child’s body were still pending, tests on evidence found under her fingernails had already been processed.

Community reaction: “They must rot in jail”

Outside court, family members and residents expressed relief that the pair would remain behind bars.

Lolitha’s uncle, Mthetheli Kowa, said:

“We feel much better that they abandoned bail, that is exactly what we wanted. They must rot in jail. We thank the relatives who rejected them because it would have been a problem.”

Ward 99 Councillor Lonwabo Mqina echoed the community’s anger:

“They don’t belong in our ward, they now belong in jail where criminals are. Even their families can’t accept that they will reside with them. We hope that justice will continue to prevail for Lolitha.”

Fear and calls for child safety

Neighbours say the murder has left children too afraid to play outside. Longtime resident Mickey Linda described Matyeseni as someone she had known since childhood but claimed she had turned to drugs.

“We don’t need Nokuthula in our community. The community is still shaken. Our children now prefer being indoors after that incident. We fear letting them go outside.”

Linda and other residents appealed to government to create safe aftercare facilities to protect children once school ends.

For now, the case continues but the community has made one thing clear: the accused are not welcome back.

{Source: IOL}

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