Khayelitsha community demands justice after tragic murder of seven-year-old Lolitha Kowa
Kuyasa residents march to the Harare police station demanding justice for a seven-year-old girl who was found murdered in the area.
Image: Siyavuya Khaya
The Kuyasa community in Khayelitsha is in mourning and demanding justice following the discovery of the body of seven-year-old Lolitha Kowa.
She was last seen by her family on Tuesday afternoon around 3pm, after arriving home from school and informing them she was going to visit a friend. Lolitha was reported missing at Harare Police Station on Tuesday, July 22, after she failed to return home.
Her body was found early on Wednesday morning on Nambuzane Street following a search operation. A police sniffer dog led officers to a house in Sindwadwa Street, where blood-stained evidence was allegedly discovered. A woman and her boyfriend were arrested at the scene in connection with the murder.
According to police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg, a coordinated SAPS team—including the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS), the K9 Unit, Public Order Policing (POP), Crime Intelligence, and Harare detectives—was deployed after the child’s body was discovered early on Wednesday morning.
“The biological sniffer dog led members to the house where the child was last seen,” said Sergeant Twigg. “The dog responded to blood found on a mop and stains on the floor that were believed to be the child's. An adult male and female were arrested and are expected to appear in the Khayelitsha Magistrate’s Court on Friday, July 25.”
A heavy police presence at the Harare police station as Kuyasa residents march to demand justice for Lolitha and raise concerns about how officers handled the case.
Image: Siyavuya Khaya
Community members have expressed outrage over the handling of the investigation and called for accountability. A march from Kuyasa to Harare Police Station took place, with residents demanding justice and transparency from the police.
Ward councillor Lonwabo Mqina condemned the slow response by police, revealing that the child had been stabbed with a screwdriver, which was reportedly left embedded in her head.
“It was disturbing to find the suspect cleaning the house while there was blood on the walls, clothes, floor, and even in the dustbin,” said Mr Mqina. “Sniffer dogs confirmed blood traces in the house and the yard. To us as residents, it was clear who committed this horrific act.”
The spot in Kuyasa where residents discovered Lolitha’s body after she was reported missing at the Harare police station.
Image: Supplied
He added that the community was deeply angered by police claims that the suspects were not arrested immediately but rather removed for their safety. “We are calling on the police to act swiftly. We do not want to see the community take the law into its own hands. We want to see justice served in a courtroom.”
Addressing the protesters, Deputy Provincial Commissioner Major General Luyanda Damoyi confirmed the arrests and assured residents that the investigation would be thorough.
“We have committed significant resources to this case. If there was any negligence in the handling of the investigation, it would be addressed seriously,” said Major General Damoyi. “We appreciate the community’s vigilance and promise to leave no stone unturned in seeking justice for Lolitha.”