Unresolved Murders of Soweto Friends Popi Qwabe and Bongeka Phungula After Eight Years

Johannesburg – It has been eight years since the tragic murder of Soweto friends Popi Qwabe and Bongeka Phungula.

The heartbreaking double homicide of these young women drew attention in 2017 when their bodies were found with gunshot wounds, abandoned near Johannesburg.

In a special interview with The Bulrushes on Friday, (9 May 2025), Thembelihle Qwabe, Popi’s elder sister, stated, “I hope this case can be solved, but at the same time, I seek justice; we need answers.”

“No matter how long it takes, we will not give up.

“As long as organizations like Amnesty International support us, we will remain resolute until this crime receives the attention it deserves.”

In the meantime, to push for justice, Amnesty International South Africa has scheduled a picket outside the Protea Magistrate’s Court in Soweto on Monday, (12 May 2025), demanding justice for Popi and Bongeka.

Since their untimely deaths, the families have received little to no updates on the case, leading them to feel neglected and hopeless regarding justice.

In 2023, National Director of Public Prosecutions Shamila Batohi informed Amnesty International South Africa that the case had been moved to the Protea Magistrate’s Court for an inquest.

Since then, there has been no information on when the inquest will begin, despite our ongoing inquiries.

On 12 May 2017, Popi and Bongeka lost their lives, their bodies discovered by the roadside in Johannesburg.

There are also concerns that they may have been raped before their deaths.

No thorough forensic reports have been released, and the ensuing police investigation was, according to the families, riddled with mistakes.

The families argue that the police neglected to check for fingerprints and failed to track the girls’ cell phones.

While two suspects were apprehended in connection with the case, they were eventually released, causing the case to be removed from the court’s agenda.

In 2020, Amnesty International featured Popi and Bongeka’s case during its annual Write for Rights campaign, leading to the reopening of the investigation and providing their families with a glimmer of hope for justice.

Over 341,000 Amnesty supporters signed a petition advocating for this cause.

The matter was sent back to the NPA in 2021 to determine prosecution and later referred to an inquest.

“Popi and Bongeka’s case represents the failures of the criminal justice system, showcasing a cycle of impunity that results in minimal justice for victims and survivors of gender-based violence and femicide,” stated Amnesty.

“The justice system needs to act as a deterrent by prosecuting perpetrators according to the law.”