lesbians murder suspects released

By Lesego Masike (BTM Reporter)

August 15, 2007: Four suspects arrested for the murder of Sizakele Sigasa and Salome Masooa weeks ago were released Monday for lack of evidence.

This stirred disappointment among the gay community, particularly in South Africa.

The suspects, who were detained at Meadowlands Police Station for 12 days, appeared at the Protea magistrates court in Soweto on 13 August where they looked relieved after their case was thrown out of the court.

Dawn Cavanagh, director of Forum for the Empowerment of Women (FEW) – which is one of the leading organisations in the 07-07-07 campaign of the Joint Working Group (JWG), .expressed disappointment but hinting that the JWG still expects police to make proper arrests.

“It is important that we put pressure on the police and call to them to accelerate the investigations”, Cavanagh said.

Investigating Officer Captain Wayne Ellapen said that the suspects were released because the items found with them were not the same items stolen from Sigasa’s car. 

He explained that the man who sold Sigasa some items while she was alive confirmed to police that the items found from the suspects were not those sold to Sigasa.

“I will not rest until the correct murderers have been arrested”, Ellapen affirmed on the other hand disputing rumours by one of the suspects released that other suspects involved in the case were arrested.

“We have new leads that we are following on, and we are hoping to work with the suspects who have been released to help us because I feel that they might not be involved but they might know something”, said Ellapen.

Wendy Isaack, manager of the legal services and advocacy programme at People Opposing Women Abuse (POWA) and who has been mandated by the Sigasa and Masooa families and members of the JWG to monitor the investigation and the trial, applauded at Ellapen for progress that has been made.

“We believe that the investigating officer is doing a commendable job on the investigations thus far. We are however aware that there are individuals who have information on the events of the evening of the murder,” asserted Isaack.

Sperm samples from the released suspects have been sent to South African Police Services (SAPS) forensic laboratories. According to the investigating officer this could be the only process that could prove otherwise.

A second letter seeking to speed up test results, drafted by Senior Prosecutor, will be sent this week to the forensic laboratories to accelerate the process.

The JWG appeals to anyone who may have information regarding the murders to contact Captain Ellapen on 082 575 1882 or 011 983 3307.