At every court date, more family, organisations and community members demonstrate with posters at the ongoing murder trail of 27-year-old Siphokazi Booi at the Paarl Regional Court.
This time, officials from the Drakenstein Municipality attended in solidarity, holding Action Society posters with the faces of other victims of rape, abuse and murder like little Lihle Zenzile (10) who was also murdered in Mbekweni this year.
This growing awareness campaign seeking justice for victims such as Booi, who was murdered in Mbekweni during September in 2021, follows continuing efforts by the pressure group Action Society. This organisation was mandated by the victim’s family to oversee the trial, put pressure on the justice system and bring her alleged killer, Sithobele Qebe, (also known as “Rasta”) to book.
Following multiple court dates that have been postponed due to a change in defence and continuing consultations with the defendant, the case was yet again postponed to 15 August.
According to the Action Society’s spokesperson, Kaylynn Palm, the reason for another postponement before the case is set to be heard, is because the defence seeks further council with the accused once more.
“The trial, which was due to begin in December 2022, has been delayed several times. The Controlling Prosecutor at Paarl Regional Court spoke to the crowd again (on 27 June),” Palm reported.
Additionally Eric Ntabazalila of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), on a previous occasion told protesters outside the court that the state is ready to start with the trial. After it was postponed yet again, Ntabazalila pointed out: “The challenge is that we are dealing with human beings who tend to change their minds very often. Remember we were ready to proceed with the trial when the accused decided to change legal representatives. We will have to wait and see on the day.”
Siphokazi’s body was found dismembered in a wheelie bin, burnt and dumped near a railway in Drommedaris Street. What drew the local police’s attention to the scene was an uproar by the community who trashed the accused’s shack in the area in reaction to Booi’s brutal murder.
Palm also interviewed Booi’s cousin Zukiswa Mhobho after the last proceedings, who spoke out about the “hassles” of endless delays.
“Each time we have to come here, it’s becoming a hassle and a burden. Each time we know if we come here, it will be postponed. Like today . . . it’s been postponed. We don’t even get a clear explanation why it’s been postponed. Rasta and his lawyers have had two weeks to prepare.
“But because they felt that ‘you want answers from us? You have to wait upon us until we’re ready . . . until Rasta wants to give you answers’,” Mhobho shared from the family’s point of view.
She added that it seems as though Rasta has a special mode of communication between him, the judges and the prosecutors. “Because it feels that way now. With each postponement, Rasta gets his way.”
