A community in mourning is demanding justice after the gruesome murder of 34-year-old Neliswa Cele from Lurholweni village near Bizana in the Eastern Cape.
Neliswa Cele’s family demands answers
Her body, found mutilated and partially undressed late last month, has sparked outrage and protests, particularly because the main suspect is believed to be a police officer — someone tasked with protecting the public.
According to Neliswa’s family, she was last seen alive in the company of a local SAPS officer. Since then, they allege, authorities have been slow to act decisively. “The police are slacking,” said one family member in an emotional statement.
“We want justice for Neliswa. We want the person who did this behind bars.”
Despite their pleas, and growing community frustration, no public court proceedings have taken place, and no formal arrests had been announced in the days following her murder.
This delay has deepened the pain for her grieving relatives, who say they are still trying to come to terms with the violent manner of her death.
On Saturday, 3 May 2025, hundreds of angry and grieving residents marched to Mzamba Police Station. They were protesting Neliswa’s murder and expressing long-standing anger over the rising number of unresolved cases involving gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide in the area.
The community’s anger stems not only from Neliswa’s killing but from what they describe as a pattern of inaction by local authorities. Protesters delivered a petition listing at least 10 unresolved murder cases.
These were not vague claims — the document included case numbers and demanded answers.
The protestors also raised concerns about widespread drug activity in their area, noting that none of the known dealers had been arrested.
Colonel Nel Russon, who received the petition, confirmed that the suspect in Neliswa’s murder had been detained and that the case had been handed over to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID).
He explained:
“Since the suspect is a SAPS member, the case is under IPID investigation, so that we don’t investigate ourselves.”
He also said the petition would be escalated to the Office of the Minister of Police.
For now, the community waits for both justice and action, as Neliswa’s grave stands as a tragic reminder of the violence that claimed her life.
