"18-Year-Old Woman in Custody for Killing Alleged Attacker"

 

An 18-year-old lesbian woman, Dakalo Avheani Mulaudzi, remains in custody after her case was postponed to August 7 for a formal bail hearing at the Thohoyandou Magistrate’s Court on Friday, July 25. She is facing a murder charge following the death of 19-year-old Shonisani Mahwasane, whom she alleges raped her during a violent encounter in the early hours of Sunday, July 21, in Lwamondo, Khumbe village, Limpopo.

According to Vhembe police spokesperson Vuledzani Dathi, the two were reportedly drinking together at Mahwasane’s home when the incident occurred.

“Mahwasane allegedly demanded sex from Mulaudzi, despite her identifying as a lesbian, saying he wanted her to experience sex with a man,” Dathi said. “He then allegedly threatened her with a knife and raped her. She reportedly managed to grab the weapon and stabbed him multiple times in self-defense.”

Mahwasane succumbed to his injuries at the scene.

The case has triggered divided responses in the local community. Some residents are mourning Mahwasane and demanding justice, insisting the allegations against him are out of character. Others, however, are urging a full and impartial investigation, raising serious concerns about the persistence of “corrective rape”—a form of gender-based violence targeting LGBTQ+ individuals.

Advocates have highlighted the case as a tragic example of the intersecting dangers faced by queer women in South Africa, where both sexual violence and homophobic abuse remain pressing human rights issues.

The South African Police Service confirmed that the investigation is ongoing. Mulaudzi is expected to reappear in court on August 7 for a formal bail application, while broader questions around consent, self-defense, and LGBTQ+ safety continue to reverberate beyond the courtroom.