In a disturbing revelation that left the courtroom visibly shaken, it emerged that seven-year-old Lolitha Kowa fought bravely against her attackers before her brutal murder in Khayelitsha, Cape Town.
Watch: How Lolitha Kowa’s alleged killers were linked to her murder
Watch our full breakdown below.
What the court heard
During the suspects’ bail appearance at the Khayelitsha Magistrate’s Court, investigators revealed gruesome forensic findings: DNA samples collected from under Lolitha’s fingernails matched one of the accused — a local taxi driver who, as it turns out, has a history of violent convictions.
The prosecution argued this was clear evidence the child had fought for her life, possibly scratching at her attacker in her final moments. The revelation has deepened the community’s call for justice, as residents of Kuyasa, a township already battling poverty and violence, struggle to process the horror of the crime.
Postponement and bail hearing
The two suspects — the taxi driver and his partner — appeared in court on Friday, 2 August 2025, but proceedings were postponed to Thursday, 8 August 2025.
The postponement allows the State time to verify the couple’s alternative addresses, since returning to Kuyasa is considered unsafe and inappropriate under the circumstances.
Until then, the suspects remain behind bars.
Lolitha’s final journey
Lolitha Kowa was laid to rest in the Eastern Cape on Saturday, her family’s place of origin. The funeral, partly funded by CODETA, the taxi organisation the suspect once worked under, is expected to draw hundreds of mourners from across the country.
CODETA has publicly condemned the crime and vowed to introduce vetting mechanisms to prevent drivers with violent histories from entering the system — a move that highlights a systemic gap that may have cost a child her life.
As the country reels from this senseless act of violence, many are left asking how a child — full of promise, joy, and innocence — could be targeted so viciously.
The embedded video above provides a full breakdown of the case, the suspects, and the road ahead.