Emotions were running high on Monday 11 March at the Paarl Magistrates’ Court as the second suspect accused of murdering 22-year-old student Asiphe Cetywayo from Mbekweni made his first court appearance, after escaping from police custody.

Cetywayo’s body was found by cattle herders in an open field next to the Bo Dal Road last Monday (4 March).

WO Nceba Vanqa, spokesperson for Mbekweni police, confirmed the young woman’s brutal death and the escape of the suspect, Luzuko Manzi (36), from police custody.

“She had burns on her upper body, blood around her nose and her face was swollen,” he said. “The deceased was last seen with the suspect in his car at a nearby tavern on Saturday (2 March). He lived near her. The police seized the suspect’s car and he was tracked down, but he managed to escape.”

Days later Manzi was apprehended by police in Langa, where he went into hiding at a family member’s residence. In the meantime a second suspect, Mlungisi Manzi (28), was also arrested in connection with the murder. It has been confirmed by Cetywayo’s family that the two suspects are cousins.

support for victim’s family

A group of community members came out to the court in support of the grief-stricken family and to petition that Luzuko doesn’t get bail. Mlungisi already made his first court appearance last week.

During the court proceedings a young woman burst into tears. The magistrate asked that anyone who cannot handle what is happening in court should wait outside.

It later came to light that she was allegedly also sexually assaulted and left for dead by Luzuko.

The 27-year-old spoke to Paarl Post outside the court on condition of anonymity.

“I was also a victim of the guy (Luzuko). When I saw him I couldn’t help crying. It was so painful to see him, and it triggered the memory of what he did to me. It was cruel. Asiphe died and she cannot talk for herself. I am here to talk for her.

“It was on 30 December 2021 that the guy strangled me until I played dead, because I couldn’t do anything else. God was with me. I don’t know how I survived. After I played dead he left me. I went outside and then ran. It happened inside his shack.”

She reported the matter to the Mbekweni police, but to date there had been no response.

“I did go to the police. I spoke to the detective. I told him what had happened. My jeans and jacket were torn. I also told the him the guy strangled me. He just said I must open a case of assault.

“I didn’t do (report) it, because I told him that it was not just assault. It was sexual assault. The police failed me. If I didn’t help myself I would’ve been dead. I don’t want him to get bail and want him to go to jail for life. Justice must take its course.”

After the court adjourned the magistrate called the emotional 27-year-old back and asked her why she cried.

“I explained to them and they said I must reopen the case. It could be against him. It is a sexual assault case, because he asked me to sleep with him and I refused.

“That’s why he strangled me. I need counselling. I can’t sleep these days. I’m having memories of what happened. It’s like it happened yesterday.”

The magistrate presiding over the case said the charges against Luzuko were a schedule-6 offence and therefore he cannot be released on bail.

Luzuko also confirmed he would use legal aid.

The magistrate said the case would be transferred to the regional court, but a date had yet to be decided.

tired of men getting off scot-free

Leezil Laubscher, a representative of Concerned Drakenstein Residents (CDR) and the People’s Movement for Change (PMC) in the Western Cape, was also present at the court proceedings.

“The reason all the women are here is that we want justice, because too many men and perpetrators get away with gender-based crime. Many women ask why should they even bother to open a case as it will just be thrown out of court.

“In this case we ask all men and women, because men usually strengthen the cause, to come and support this family. We just want justice to be served. We are tired of men getting away, free to commit the next act on the next person or innocent child. It no longer works for us. We’ll sleep at court if we have to.”

Nombulelo Ntsunguzi, ANC Women’s league regional secretary of Boland, also came out to show her support.

“We are saying justice must be served for Asiphe and others. You could see there was a lady crying because she had opened a case years ago, but the police failed her. She was crying because they did not act. We are saying all those cases must be put in front of the justice, so this man does not get bail. He is a killer. He cannot sit with the community. We cannot allow him into society.

“We can say the Minister of Police must employ more officers, but here we are not failed by the lack of capacity, but by police officers who are there. In Mbekweni how can a suspect just disappear from the officers’ sight? Those who are there must just pull their socks up.”

Deputy minister’s stakeholders’ engagement

Ntsunguzi added that Nokuzola Sisisi Tolashe, Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, will be in Paarl on Friday (15 March) for a stakeholders’ engagement. She encouraged stakeholders to bring the concerns of the community into central focus.

“She (Tolashe) is following-up on the presidential imbizo that took place in Paarl last year. All stakeholders across Drakenstein are invited, because now they don’t want complaints. They want solutions. The event will take place in the Paarl Town Hall.”

Meanwhile Eric Ntabazalila, spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in the Western Cape, confirmed that the Manzi-cousins will appear in court together on 14 March.

Cetywayo’s family is set to leave today for the Eastern Cape where she will be laid to rest.