Durban man accused of homophobic hate crime denied bail

Suthentira Govender Senior reporter
Members of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance of SA outside the Ntuzuma magistrate's court on Wednesday where Thando Mgenge was denied bail.
Members of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance of SA outside the Ntuzuma magistrate's court on Wednesday where Thando Mgenge was denied bail.
Image: Facebook/Gay and Lesbian Alliance of SA

The man accused of murdering Durban call centre agent Sphamandla Khoza in a suspected homophobic attack has been denied bail.

Thando Mgenge, 25, appeared in the Ntuzuma magistrate's court on Wednesday to make his bid for bail, which was opposed by the state.

Khoza's family and LGBTQI+ activists were at the court to voice their opposition to Mgenge being granted bail.

Mgenge handed himself over to the police on March 30, after Khoza's body was found in a ditch near his Ntuzuma home a day earlier.

Natasha Kara, National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson in KwaZulu-Natal, told TimesLIVE: “The accused appeared in court on Wednesday for judgment in his bail application.

“Bail was refused in the matter. The matter was postponed to May 31 for further investigation.”

Kara said Mgenge will remain in custody.

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance of SA (Glasa) said the court's decision was a “small win” for the LGBTQIA+ community.

“Glasa will continue to follow the evolution of the situation in similar hate crimes cases in other provinces,” it said in a Facebook post.

Today the Ntuzuma Magistrate Court denied Thando Mgenge bail, the suspect in Sphamandla Khoza’s murder case. A small win...

Posted by Gay and lesbian alliance of SA on Wednesday, April 28, 2021

TimesLIVE


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