'We want justice'

KNYSNA NEWS - Residents from across Knysna last weekend joined the community of Dam se Bos in a march to demand justice over the killing of young Phiri Njozela (22) and call for a stop to gender-based violence.

Njozela's naked body was found in a small dam near Dam se Bos last Tuesday, 28 September.

The peaceful march on Sunday 3 October started from the shopping centre at the Prince Alfred's Pass (R339)/N2 intersection at 13:30 and proceeded along the N2 to the site where Njozela's body was found.

While it started out as a small crowd, by the time it reached the N2, hundreds had joined.

Phiri Njozela. Photo: Supplied

The start of the march

Blocking off one lane of the road due to their numbers, the crowd made its way along the N2 towards for about 500m before turning off onto a side road that led to the site where Njozela's body was found - a small dam in a river that runs just below Dam se Bos.

With towering trees rustling in the wind and water trickling over the dam wall, the crowd gathered once more for prayers and songs of praise. There were speeches by close friends and members of Njozela's family crying out for justice over her death.

The crowd makes its way along the N2 towards the dam.

A march for justice

The reason for the march lent itself to a call against gender-based violence (GBV), which is a pandemic in its own right in in South Africa. Coupled with a clarion call for justice for Njozela, there came cries for an end to GBV and for police and members of the community to make their surroundings a safer place for women.

After the gathering at the dam, the crowd made its way back along the N2 towards Njozela's house where they gathered once more for prayers and speeches. The numbers of people attending the ceremony blocked off roads around the house. Organisers pledged that they will continue to fight until the person responsible is brought to book and justice has been attained for Phiri Njozela.

The marchers gathered at the dam where Phiri Njozela's body was found.

Body found

According to Southern Cape police spokesperson Sgt Chris Spies, Njozela's naked body was found in the dam on Tuesday 28 September by a member of the public who was working in the vicinity. "Emergency personnel were alerted and dispatched to the scene. The body, with an open wound to the neck, was later retrieved by police divers," he explained.

This week, Spies indicated that an autopsy had been conducted on Wednesday 29 September, but that he was not able to disclose the cause of death. He also stated that while no one has been arrested in connection with the crime yet, one man was brought in for questioning on Friday 1 October but later released.

The marchers gathered at the dam where Phiri Njozela's body was found.

Lovely person

Phiri Njozela was 22 years old when she died, and her uncle Nicholas Njozela says she will be remembered fondly. "She'll be missed. She was very enthusiastic about her siblings and her family," he said. "She always wanted to love everyone and showed so much affection. Phiri was always smiling and friendly, she had a very beautiful personality."

Phiri was born and raised in Knysna, attending Thembelitsha Primary School and later Percy Mdala High School, where her uncle is principal. She had lost her mother in 2012 when she was only 13, and she moved in with her cousin and aunt in Dam se Bos where she has been living since.

Phiri has a younger brother whom she helped raise after her mother passed. She was also a woman with aspirations, as she had already attended a hospitality training course and at the time of her death was awaiting the outcome of an application to join the South African National Defence Force.

Her uncle could not express enough gratitude for the support they've received and said it was beyond what they could have expected. "We greatly appreciate it. Because of this support we know that we are not alone - we feel that the family is valued and loved through the support," he said.

The crowd carried posters calling for justice for Phiri Njozela. Photos: Blake Linder