Death of Belly Mujinga

The death of Belly Mujinga, a 47-year-old Congolese-born woman, occurred in Barnet, North London, United Kingdom on 5 April 2020 from COVID-19 related complications. Mujinga was selling tickets for Govia Thameslink Railway at London Victoria station when she and a coworker, Motolani Sunmola,[1] neither of whom had PPE, were allegedly spat and coughed on by a 57-year-old man who claimed to have the virus on 21 March 2020.

Mujinga was later taken to Barnet Hospital with COVID-19, put on a ventilator, and later died.[2] According to a worker at the station, Mujinga had requested that she work in the enclosure due to her respiratory issues, but all were forced to work on the concourse without even a mask.

Mujinga's death inspired a number of protests after her case was closed in May 2020 in the United Kingdom demanding justice, as well as better treatment of frontline workers, particularly black and minority workers. A petition garnered over 2 million signatures. These protests overlapped with the George Floyd protests and were joined by Mujinga's husband, Lusamba Katalay. Mujinga is considered by many to be a face of the Black Lives Matter movement in the UK.[3]

Background
Belly Mujinga
Born1972/1973
Kinshasa, Zaire
Died(2020-04-05)5 April 2020 (aged 47)
Barnet Hospital, Barnet, London, United Kingdom
Cause of deathComplications related to COVID-19
Alma materUniversity of Kinshasa
EmployerGovia Thameslink Railway
Spouse(s)
Lusamba Gode Katalay
​
​
(m. 2011)​
Children1

Belly Mujinga was born in Kinshasa, Zaire (now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo). She graduated from the University of Kinshasa with a degree in journalism. She worked for RTNC, the Congolese national broadcaster; she was the network's first woman sports reporter. Due to the unrest following the assassination of President Laurent-Désiré Kabila in 2001, she relocated to the UK for security reasons where she got a job at a post office in Edgware. She married Lusamba Katalay (who she met at a church in London[1]) in 2011 and had a daughter.[4][5] Mujinga had a rare form of sarcoidosis.[1]

Investigation

In May 2020, the police reviewed CCTV footage. On 29 May, police announced following an interview with the man that a test had shown he did not have the virus, so could not have been the source of Belly Mujinga's infection, and that they would not be doing anything in relation to the assault.[6][7] Following a series of protests, the case was reopened on 5 June.[8] After the British Transport Police reported no further evidence, the Crown Prosecution Service did not press charges.[9]

Funeral

Mujinga's funeral took place on 29 April. Only 10 people, including her husband and daughter, could attend due to lockdown restrictions.[10] A GoFundMe organised by Mujinga's union to cover the funeral costs raised over £200,000.

References
  1. Croxford, Rianna (October 13, 2020). "Belly Mujinga's death: Searching for the truth". BBC News. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  2. "Coronavirus: Victoria ticket worker dies after being spat at". BBC News. May 12, 2020. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
  3. "Belly Mujinga: Protesters 'defending my wife's cause' says husband". BBC. June 24, 2020. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  4. O'Connor, Rachael (May 12, 2020). "UK rail worker dies of Covid-19 after being spit on while on duty". The Irish Post. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  5. Kale, Sirin (August 25, 2020). "'I feel she was abandoned': The life and terrible death of Belly Mujinga". The Guardian. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  6. "Coronavirus: Death of Belly Mujinga 'not linked to spit attack'". BBC. May 29, 2020. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  7. "Police close case of rail worker's Covid-19 death after spitting incident". The Guardian. May 29, 2020. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
  8. Mohdin, Aamna (June 5, 2020). "Belly Mujinga: police ask CPS to review rail worker's Covid-19 death". The Guardian. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  9. "Belly Mujinga: No charges over station worker's coronavirus death". BBC. August 6, 2020. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  10. Jones, Alan (May 13, 2020). "Husband describes final time he saw wife Belly Mujinga who died after being spat at". HertsLive. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
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