Cape Town – Deputy Police Minister Dr Polly Boshielo has announced that a specialised team, including the police’s occult unit, is investigating the brutal murder of 14-year-old Lukhona Fose.
The Grade 8 pupil from Ikusasalethu Secondary School was found mutilated in an open field in Durban Deep on Sunday, 1 June 2025, after going missing earlier that day.
Two possible motives are being considered: a hate crime related to her sexuality or a muthi-related killing.
“There are two possibilities: It could be that Lukhona was targeted for her sexuality, making it a hate crime, or her body parts were mutilated for muthi purposes.
“Our investigations are ongoing, and maximum resources have been roped in to find those who are behind the killing of this young woman,” The Citizen quoted the minister as saying.
Boshielo reiterated that gender-based violence (GBV) remains a national crisis, echoing President Cyril Ramaphosa’s earlier declaration of GBV as a “second pandemic”.
Boshielo also urged women and girls to remain vigilant and communicate their whereabouts to trusted individuals.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
