'SAPS is failing Western Cape families': Investigation into Lolitha Kowa's murder hampered by resource issues

Claims have emerged that the detective investigating the murder of seven-year-old Lolitha Kowa does not have access to a South African Police Service (SAPS) vehicle, a situation highlighted by the DA's Nicholas Gotsell.

Gotsell MP, DA NCOP Member on Security & Justice said services and infrastructure within the police, failed communities, such as the 10111 call centre, training for new K9 unit dogs and  transparency on the ongoing vehicle fleets. 

Police sniffer dogs had led cops to the scene of Kowa's murder, where blood stains were found on a mop and on the floor.

“SAPS is failing Western Cape families, and it’s costing lives,” said Gotsell.

“On Friday, July 25, I stood in court watching the suspects accused of murdering 7-year-old Lolitha from Khayelitsha. It was heartbreaking. SAPS had done incredible work finding her body and key evidence – thanks to one of the only biological fluid dogs in the metro.

“However, shockingly, the investigating officer in her case doesn’t even have a vehicle.

“We went to Harare Police Station to find out why. What we found was chaos, two completely different lists of vehicles, each telling a different story. A week later, after chasing for answers, all we got was a letter saying the request had been “referred” to the Provincial Commissioner.

“Why is this so difficult when Members of Parliament have oversight over these critical Police resources? Because under Lieutenant General Thembisile Patekile’s rule of fear, station commanders won’t give Parliament straight answers without his permission. It’s paralysis and it’s deadly.

“Over that same weekend, SAPS diverted two of only five Flying Squad cars to Harare… not for a crime spike, but for an EFF rally! This left just three cars patrolling the entire metro when a woman was shot dead on the R300. With enough vehicles on the road, that tragedy might have been prevented.

“Instead of protecting communities, SAPS leadership is covering up failures and bending to political priorities. That’s not policing; it’s negligence.

“The people of the Western Cape deserve better.”

In response to the issues raised, MEC of Police Oversight and Community Safety, Anroux Marais said they were aware of the lack of resources at police stations.

“The ongoing challenges of understaffing and limited resources within the South African Police Service (SAPS) remains a huge concern. My calls for increased support and resources for our province are well documented,” she said.

“However, the recruitment of SAPS personnel and the allocation of resources are managed at a national level. This is precisely why we continue to advocate for the devolution of policing powers to provincial level. 

“Greater provincial oversight, which includes decision-making powers, would enable more responsive and context-specific decision-making, particularly in aligning resource distribution and personnel deployment with the unique needs and lived realities of our communities and the operational challenges faced by local police stations.”

Queries to provincial police and the Community Policing  Forum Board went answered on the issues raised.

Odwa Jack and his girlfriend, Nokuthula Matyesini, are making appearances at Khayelitsha Magistrates’ Court and are facing charges for Lolitha’s murder.

The duo were arrested on July 23, hours after Lolitha’s body was discovered about 1.5 kilometres from her home.

IOL reported that she disappeared the day before and told her family that she was going to play with Matyesini’s daughter and her body was discovered dumped on another section of Kuyasa.

She was found with a screwdriver lodged in her head and a sock had been stuffed down her throat.

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