PALM RIDGE COURT: On Tuesday November 25, the beginning of the 16 Days of Activism, Lesley Motleleng (24) admitted that he brutally murdered, raped and forced a toilet brush inside the genitals of a young and openly lesbian, Zozo, on June 30, 2013.
Zozo stayed with her family in Thokoza Serema Street, where she lost her life kicking and scratching Lesley Motleleng, who admitted to overpowering her when he choked her for at least one and a half minutes, leaving her unconscious and weak, and also inserted a toilet brush inside her anus.
According to the plea Lesley and Zozo were no strangers as they had mutual friends and lived in the same suburb. In fact, the two knew each other although they were not close friends.
Prior to Zozo’s death, they were in the same tavern having a good time with their respective friends in the early hours of the morning.
Lesley went to the men’s room and when he came back he found that his friends had left him and that Zozo was also searching for her friends.
The two then walked away together, towards their homes, as Zozo trusted Lesley and thought she would be safer walking with him as they knew each other.
Along the way, not far from Zozo’s home in Serema Street, Lesley proposed his love to her although he knew she was lesbian, but Zozo told her that they should talk about it during the day.
When they arrived at a home that did not have a gate, Lesley asked Zozo to kiss him. When she refused, he forced himself on her, tripping and dragging her.
Although she tried to fight back by scratching and kicking him, she gave in when she was choked, just after she threatened to tell her brother about what Lesley was trying to do.
It was not testified that there was any penetration, but inserting a toilet brush inside another person’s genitals without their permission is rape or a form of rape.
Family and friends
The trial caused a public outcry and attracted the interest of Lesbian and Gay communities, with various gay and lesbian rights organisations’ members protesting outside the court during the trial. Police officers were deployed to maintain peace and order at the Palm Ridge Magistrate Court’s gate.
Family and friends were pleased to learn that Lesley will be gone for a long time, but a close friend of Zozo, Jabu Hadebe, said: “It is good that he will go to jail but nothing or no form of sentence can ever heal this.”
Zozo’s mother left the courtroom to take a breather as she could not sit and listen to a plea being read about how Lesley inserted a toilet brush inside her daughter’s genitals.
The judge
Honourable Judge Maumela made it clear that Lesley should serve a 30 years sentence in prison and use that time to learn that gay and lesbian people have the right to life and dignity, and that they deserve to live in peace just like everybody else. Maumela also advised Lesley to use his time in prison to change his ways so that he can a better person when he will be rehabilitated.
The accused
The accused was sentenced to 25 years for count one, murder, and another 25 years for count two, rape; with 20 years from count two to be served concurrently with the 20 years in count one, making his sentence a 30 years sentence.
According to the plea, the accused regrets his behaviour and sympathises with the family of the victim and admits his crimes.
Lesley is said to have already suffered depression and attempted suicide since his arrest; and it was stated that the accused can’t sleep at night.
