Unresolved Murders of Soweto Friends Popi Qwabe and Bongeka Phungula Persist After Eight Years
Johannesburg – It has been eight years since the tragic murder of Soweto friends Popi Qwabe and Bongeka Phungula.
The shocking double homicide of these young women made headlines in 2017 when their bodies, found with gunshot wounds, were discarded near Johannesburg.
In an exclusive interview with The Bulrushes on Friday, (9 May 2025), Thembelihle Qwabe, Popi’s older sister, stated, “I wish this case could find resolution, but I am also seeking justice; we need clarity.”
“No matter how long it takes, we will not give up.
“As long as organizations like Amnesty International stand with us, we will remain determined until this crime is addressed.”
In the meantime, in pursuit of justice, Amnesty International South Africa has organized a picket outside the Protea Magistrate’s Court in Soweto on Monday, (12 May 2025), demanding accountability for Popi and Bongeka.
Since their tragic deaths, the families have received little to no updates on the case, leaving them feeling neglected and hopeless regarding justice.
In 2023, National Director of Public Prosecutions Shamila Batohi informed Amnesty International South Africa that the case had been forwarded to the Protea Magistrate’s Court for an inquest.
Since then, there has been no news on the start date of the inquest, despite our persistent inquiries.
On 12 May 2017, Popi and Bongeka were murdered, their bodies abandoned by the roadside in Johannesburg.
There are concerns that they may have been assaulted before their deaths.
No thorough forensic reports have been released, and the families claim that the subsequent police investigation was riddled with mistakes.
The families argue that the police failed to look for fingerprints and that the girls’ cell phones were not tracked.
While two suspects were apprehended in connection with the case, they were later released, leading to the case being removed from the court’s agenda.
In 2020, Amnesty International highlighted Popi and Bongeka’s case during its annual Write for Rights campaign, prompting the reopening of the investigation and giving their families a glimmer of hope for justice.
More than 341,000 Amnesty supporters signed a petition advocating for this.
The matter was returned to the NPA in 2021 for a decision on prosecution and was subsequently directed to an inquest.
“The case of Popi and Bongeka exemplifies the failing criminal justice system, underscoring a cycle of impunity that results in minimal justice for victims and survivors of gender-based violence and femicide,” stated Amnesty.
“The justice system must start acting as a deterrent by ensuring that perpetrators are prosecuted according to the law.”
