Police believe Andile “Lulu” Ntuthela was killed because of his sexuality (Twitter)
A South African man is on trial for the brutal murder of a gay man who was butchered and burned in a suspected hate crime.
The mutilated remains of 40-year-old Andile “Lulu” Ntuthela were found in a shallow grave 11 days after his murder. He is believed to have been killed simply because he was gay.
The 28-year-old suspect, who has not yet been named, appeared at the Kwa-Nobuhle Magistrates Court in the Eastern Cape on Tuesday (13 April).
Police spokesperson Col Priscilla Naidu said he was arrested after the man’s family complained to the police that he had burnt bedding at his house.
“On 1 April, the family reported the malicious property damage to police and indicated that they were suspicious that he may have been involved in some other criminal activity,” she said. “Police went to the house and found bloodstains inside his room as well as outside.”
The suspect was hospitalised for a mental health condition between 1 and 9 April. On his discharge from hospital he was arrested and detained for malicious damage to property.
Information about Ntuthela’s murder emerged under questioning, and officers found his remains only a few paces from the alleged killer’s front door.
“The murder is suspected to be LGBTQI linked,” Naidu confirmed.
The gruesome killing in South Africa comes days after another gay man was stabbed to death and dumped in a ditch near a school.
As Ntuthela’s murder forced South Africans to confront the reality of this mounting death toll, members of KwaNobuhle’s LGBT+ community were left reeling.
“We know we are not safe. We only hang out with people that we know and trust because we know the prejudice we face,” said Sixolile Ndlondlo, Ntuthela close friend, speaking to The Herald.
“Andile knew his [alleged] killer. They were friends. For him to be killed like this … has us questioning who we can trust.”
Local LGBT+ people rallied in protest at the court on Tuesday as growing numbers of South Africans demanded justice online under the hashtag JusticeForLulu.
Another queer mercilessly murdered. SA is bleeding queer people, literally. It could easily be one of us next. We are walking deaths waiting to happen. This is heartbreaking and a lived reality for queer bodies. I’m heartbroken and petrified. RIP Lulu #justiceforlulu https://t.co/28CUCK2Aj3
— NOT a Dr, Dhlamini (@Melusi_MD) April 12, 2021
Gay hatred is one of the most senseless and evil things I’ve ever witnessed. How does one’s sexual orientation offend you to the point of killing them?Black Gay men deal with being hated by whiteness for being black and hated by black society for being gay💔💔 #JusticeForLulu pic.twitter.com/SyKviJPVUp
— @Rev_Mente (@Rev_Mente) April 13, 2021
#JusticeForLulu The local LGBTI community and ally are already rallying in the local court! pic.twitter.com/Pdq1L94cnh
— RIP LULU ❤️ (@StayWoo) April 13, 2021
Sibonelo Ncanana-Trower, spokesperson for Nelson Mandela Bay LGBTI Sector, urged queer South Africans to speak out against the increase in homophobic hate.
“[We are] deeply worried about Lulu’s murder and would like that the heavy might of law be felt by the killer,” Ncanana-Trower said to IOL.
“We call on the community to not be silent on such cases and to speak out. The Sector notes the increase in crimes of hate in the country and calls on government to intervene and work with the sector in engaging the community.
“Hate crimes don’t only affect the victim and family, it affects the whole community in a negative way.”
A candlelit prayer to celebrate Ntuthela’s life will be held on Thursday (15 April), the Sector said.