Lolitha Kowa Case: Angry Khayelitsha Residents Set Alight Home of Couple Accused of Rape and Murder
- Nokuthula Matyesini and Odwa Jack were arrested in connection with the death of seven-year-old Lolitha Kowa
- Angry community members exacted some measure of revenge, as they targeted the couple's home in Kuyasa
- Lolitha's father explained that one of the accused was a friend of the family who helped with the search
Source: Twitter
Briefly News journalist Byron Pillay has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He spent 10 years working for the Northern Natal Courier before transitioning to online journalism.
WESTERN CAPE – Angry Khayelitsha community members took the law into their own hands and sent a message to the couple accused of the murder and rape of seven-year-old Lolitha Kowa.
The youngster’s body was dumped in a street in Kuyasa on Wednesday, 23 July 2025, a day after she was last seen alive. The couple were arrested later after sniffer dogs led police to their place.
They have since appeared in court and will appear again on 1 August 2025, but that hasn’t stopped residents from exacting revenge.
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What did the community do?
According to police, residents went to the couple’s home over the weekend (26-27 June) and set it alight. The home was set on fire a day after the duo appeared in the Khayelitsha Magistrate's Court for the murder.
Community members also protested outside the court during the first appearance, demanding that they don’t get bail. Lolitha's father, Zukisani Skade, said what hurt the most was the fact that one of the accused, Matyeseni, was a friend of the family.
"She was there when I arrived on Wednesday during the search, and she was standing with us in the street. I never suspected her to be involved in this," he said.
Lolitha's aunt, Ntombifuthi Kowa, also spoke about how close one of the accused was to the family.
“She could come to our home at any time; she spent a lot of time there, and she could do whatever she wanted to do; she was free.”
Source: Getty Images
Sniffer dogs led to the couple’s arrest
Following the discovery of Lolitha’s body, with the screwdriver still lodged in her skull, sniffer dogs were brought. The dogs quickly guided police to the home where the little girl went to play with her friend. It was there that police found blood-stained evidence which connected them to the crime.
“The dog reacted to blood on a mop and blood stains on the floor of the house, which is believed to be that of the child,” Police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg said.
The couple were then taken in for questioning and later arrested for the crime.
Amber Lee Hughes confessed to murder
In another article, Amber Lee Hughes confessed to the murder of four-year-old Nada-Jane Challita.
Briefly News reported that the toddler was found dead in a bathtub in the home of the preschool teacher on 23 January 2023.
South Africans shared their thoughts on Hughes' admissions, with many calling for the death penalty to be brought back.
Source: Briefly News
