We, the undersigned, urgently call on the South African courts to deny bail to the accused in the brutal murder of Dorcus "Didi" Lekganyane, an internationally renowned scientist whose life was tragically taken by the accused in question.

The accused has been charged with her murder. After months of delays, his bail hearing, initially set for 11 April 2025, has now been postponed to 15 April 2025 at Alex Court.

Update: 
The petition was successfully submitted before the bail hearing today (11 April 2025) at 9am at Alex Court with 1513 signatures. The bail hearing has been postponed to 24th April 2025 at Alex Court. Please keep signing it as we still have a chance to submit the next one before hearing of the bail with more signatures.

This case is also scheduled for high court proceedings on 10 October 2025 at Johannesburg High Court.

Why Bail Must Be Denied:
Risk of Flight: The accused’s application for bail shows a blatant disregard for the severity of his crime, raising serious concerns that he may attempt to evade justice.
Public Safety: Granting bail would pose a risk not only to Didi's family but also to the broader community. It would undermine efforts to address gender-based violence (GBV) in South Africa and send a message that those accused of such serious crimes can avoid the consequences.
Justice for Didi: This case is not just about a murder; it is a stark reminder of the rampant GBV crisis that has plagued our nation. Granting bail would send the wrong message about our commitment to holding perpetrators accountable. Didi’s death must not be reduced to another statistic.
We stand united in demanding that the court deny bail to the accused and ensure that justice is served, not only for Didi but for all victims of gender-based violence in South Africa.

Please sign this petition to ensure that this crucial case does not become another example of GBV being overlooked.