It was a sad day once again for family and friends of the late Anele Bhengu who was murdered in KwaMakhutha in June as the suspect arrested for her murder made yet another brief court appearance.
Murder accused, Thulani Nandos Cele, appeared on Tuesday at the uMbumbulu Magistrate’s Court, where he faces a string of charges relating to the brutal murder of Bhengu. Following the short appearance, the 39-year-old suspect was once again remanded into custody pending his next court date on 14 September. It is alleged that the suspect brutally raped and murdered the 28-year-old because she was a lesbian. Her mutilated body was later discovered by a passerby in a ditch close to a school in the KwaMakhutha area. The suspect was later traced and tracked down to Port Shepstone, where he had been hiding. Speaking to South Coast Weekly Gazette, outside the magistrate’s court, Busisiwe Bhengu, the victim’s sister, said: “As a family we are still reliving this tragedy. The anger we feel has not gone away. This is the fourth time we have had to see the face of the man that brutally killed our Anele.” Bhengu said the delay in getting justice for her sister was causing more heartache for the family. “We want this case to go to the high court as soon as possible because as a family, we feel that not enough is being done since her death in June. “We cannot get closure until the suspect tells us why he did what he did. We want to know why he chose our Anele, what were her last words, did she try to fight him off. We need to know this for our own closure,” said Bhengu.
Bhengu admits that she has constant nightmares from the day when she was taken to the scene where Anele’s body was found. “I was informed that something had happened to Anele and that I needed to come to the place where she was. At that point I was hoping that she was okay. When I arrived at the scene, there was already a crowd of people standing around. I was told that Anele was laying on the ground dead. I refused to believe it and then I pushed my way forward and what I saw is something I will never forget. There she was, my little sister on the ground, with her throat slit and her abdomen cut open,” said a tearful Bhengu as she recounted the events of that tragic day. Bhengu said that although she is still undergoing trauma counselling, she cannot forget the images that are burned into her mind. “Nobody should have to see something like that, especially when it is your own flesh and blood,” she said.
Anele’s best friend of 10 years, Siphesihle Mchunu, said the last time she saw Anele was when she left her home to go sleep over at another friend’s place so they could both attend church together the next day. “I didn’t know that would be the last time I saw my friend. I remember her walking away and then turning around and waving back to me. I will forever remember that look on her face.” She, too, is calling for the wheels of justice to move quicker. “Justice delayed is justice denied. All we want is for justice to be served for Anele. She was one of the most loving and caring people I knew. She was kind and generous. She was always smiling and cracking silly jokes because that is who she was. She loved life and she loved to spend time with her friends.” Mchunu said: “I only wish I asked her not to leave that day. But against my better judgment, I watched her leave. Our hearts are broken and nothing will ever fill that empty space that was once Anele’s.” The Bhengu family continues to appeal to members of the community that may have any further information on the circumstances surrounding the days leading up to her death. “If anyone knows anything, please make contact with us so that we can move forward with the case,” said Bhengu.
