A sad and somber day for family and friends of Sinothando Malinga whose life was cut short tragically a week ago in Kariega, Eastern Cape. What started off as a get together with friends at a local house, ended in heart break and death.

Malinga and her friend Ibanathi Peter were allegedly raped by four men, who forcefully entered a house they were socialising in with other teens and then allegedly killed them close to the scene. Their bodies we discovered burned, a day later by community members in a nearby bush. The four have since been arrested and face charges of murder and rape.

Malinga’s uncle Ndikho Malinga says they are still reeling over the loss.

“What has happened has really hurts as a family. We are not ok at all. We are not at peace and will never be alright. This happened when we least expected it. We will only be ok when the boys that did this are punished, because what they did is wrong. This has never happened ever in this area.”

Last week, the four men accused of raping and killing the two girls made their first appearance at the Kariega Magistrate’s court. The four abandoned bail. This act of violence has sent shockwaves throughout the community, but even deeper pain for her friends who say her death was cruelty in its highest form.

“I’m so hurt that Sinothando had to die in such a horrific way. She was such a kind person who was never cruel to anyone and then she died like that. On that evening, they actually asked me to tag along with them to the get together, but I told them I wasn’t keen. Maybe I was being saved from what happened to them. Maybe it was my way to live. Sinothando was forever smiling and always joking around. It is so sad that she died like this,” says a friend.

The community is still in shock after what happened, especially knowing that some of the suspects are known in the community and by the deceased.

Community leader Thamsanqa Nkevu says this incident has left girls and their parents living in fear.

“The fear is around the safety of young girls in society today. Especially around people that they hang out with, because we know for a fact the offenders in this case are people that they were having a nice time with. So, when your daughter leaves home to say they are going to hang out with friends for a sit in, immediately fear starts to creep in.”

The four accused will return to court on Monday.

19 year old Sinothando Malinga is being laid to rest today in Kariega in the Eastern Cape. SInothando and Ibanathi Peter’s bodies were discovered in bushes by community members in Kariega a week ago. #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/YY4fO4RdW4

— Lerato Fekisi (@LThipa) June 29, 2025