Durban man to appear in court for brutal stabbing of gender activist

A 30-year-old man is expected to make his first appearance in the Umlazi magistrate’s court on Monday following a brutal knife attack on a Durban gender activist.

Lindokuhle Cele, 23, a well-known lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI) activist, was stabbed to death on Thursday outside a butchery in Umlazi K section, south of Durban.

His murder sparked outrage on Twitter as #Justice4Lindo trended over the weekend.

A close friend of Cele's claimed in an e-mail sent to the Sunday Times: "The community watched as Lindo begged for his life. The knife was still lodged in Lindo's eye cavity when he succumbed to his injuries later that day." 

Police spokesperson Captain Nqobile Gwala said a case of murder was being investigated.

"It is alleged on February 6 2020 at 9.05pm, a 23-year-old man was stabbed while at K section in Umlazi. He sustained stab wounds and the knife was stuck in his left eye.

"He was taken to hospital where he was declared dead upon arrival. A 30-year-old suspect was placed under arrest."

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for social development, Nonhlanhla Khoza, will meet Cele's family to pay her respects following proceedings at court.