Cape Town - More than a year after Noluvo Swelindawo was kidnapped and murdered for being lesbian, the Western Cape High Court on Thursday found her killer guilty.
Sigcine Mdani stood trial for Swelindawo's murder.
He was alleged to have first kidnapped her from her Driftsands home in December 2016.
Gender activists, who campaigned relentlessly throughout the trial, said the long wait justice for had finally ended.
Judge Derek Wille found Mdani of assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm; housebreaking; kidnapping; murder; and possession of unlicensed firearm, and illegal ammunition.
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Judge Wille said Mdani’s desire to kill Swelindayo was “fueled by his intolerance of her sexual orientation”.
The court has found that Mdani’s evidence was “wholly unsatisfactory”.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila welcomed the finding.
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Mdani was seen stamping on her head and kicking Swelindawo in the face several times just days before her body was found near the N2 in Driftsands.
Swelindawo’s girlfriend told the Cape Times her murder was a hate crime.
The case has been postponed until February 12 for sentencing procedures.