SA in anguish over murder of aspiring musician

The hopeful 23-year-old artist, who was also a film school graduate in live performance, was stabbed a number of times including in the eye, outside a butchery.

According to a number of reports, Cele, who was an LGBTQI activist, had fallen victim to a homophobic attack. His aunt, Nombuso Cele, says the musician was stabbed in an attempt to ‘damage his face’. Mvuyisi Mabhuthi Mogudu, the suspect charged with the murder had apparently been telling people that the victim looked too beautiful for a boy.

The tragic attack coincides with the annual State of the Nation (SONA) address that takes place today where President Cyril Ramaphosa will give a synopsis of the current situation facing the country.

In the build-up to anticipated SONA the public has urged Ramphosa to refer to the incident directly. The attack is yet another ‘hate crime’ that have occurred in recent years, and are seeming uncontainable.

The issue was worsened by members of the community who witnessed the attack but failed to intervene. Under the slogan ‘#justice4lindo’ created on social media platforms, the public is demanding that such social injustices come to an end.

“I am so sorry that your community just stood there and watched as you were brutality stabbed and left all alone. I can't believe that I've had to lose my best friend so soon. We love you and will do what we can to get justice for you,” a Tweep wrote.

The attack is also among a number of other societal issues such as high unemployment, rape and impoverished communities that the government is battling to resolve.

In 2019, an average of 58 people were murdered every day. And a total of 41,583 rapes were reported. In the same period house burglaries, which are the most feared crimes, amounted to 220,865.

Meanwhile, according to National Prosecuting Authority spokersperson Kholiswa Mdhluli, the suspect appeared in the Umlazi Magistrate's Court on Monday and is due to apply for bail soon