Siyanda Mngaza, is a young 22-year-old black woman from Caerphilly, South Wales formerly a HR officer for South Wales Fire Service. Aged 20 Siyanda was the victim of a vicious racist attack that took place on the 25th May 2019 at a camping site in Brecon, Wales.

During the brutal attack, they left her with a severe black eye and marks on her face. Siyanda was left with no choice but to defend herself.

As a result, and following in the tradition and tragic history of institutional racist policing responses to racist attacks, that sees victims arrested instead of perpetrators Siyanda was charged with GBH with intent by Dyfed Powys Police.

After an appalling biased police investigation and many evidential flaws and errors, Siyanda was eventually convicted and unbelievably jailed for four and a half years.

Siyanda is 4'10. She has never been in trouble before.

Siyanda was a victim of a race hate crime, where a gang of three white people had subjected her to a vile torrent of racist abuse and a vicious physical racist attack.

Siyanda had no choice but to try and defend herself injuring one of her attackers in the process. Despite this, she continued to suffer racist abuse as they were beating her.

Siyanda expected the Dyfed Powys Police to investigate the racist attack; instead, they chose not to do so, preferring to listen to the three white perpetrators who conspired against her.

Siyanda had photographs of her injuries and supporting medical records. Anyone could see that she had been brutally attacked.

Despite this evidence, the attack was denied by all three of the perpetrators. Unbelievably they told the court no one had touched her. To date, no one has been able to explain how she acquired her injuries.

The Dyfed Powys Police had two photos, showing marks on her face, a badly bruised black eye and swollen face. Yet, they neither investigated nor did they forward this crucial evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service.

Dyfed Powys Police's record of institutionalised racism that has wrongly targeted black people for criminal prosecution and consistently failed the victims of racist attacks is a national scandal.

We need your financial help to prepare a strong appeal against her conviction so the truth can come out with what happened to Siyanda. Victims of racist attack should not be suffering the continued trauma and indignity of being prosecuted for acts of self-defence. Everyone has the right to defend themselves from such attacks, and the police have a duty to ensure that they investigate alleged racist attacks thoroughly and follow the evidence, not their prejudices or unconscious biases.

With Siyanda's new solicitor's Virgo Consultancy Services Ltd, we are delighted of the progress made since our new legal team has been instructed which includes identifying failures, in the initial defence of Siyanda. Michael Mansfield QC also forms part of the legal defence team as part of the appeal and we now stand a good chance of overturning her conviction on appeal.

Siyanda's appeal will be scheduled soon so we need your support.

We already secured a contribution from Unite Union Cardiff General Branch who have donated £500 to our cause for which we are deeply grateful.

Help us overturn this injustice and end Siyanda's ordeal as she sits in jail for a crime she did not commit.

Please donate to the campaign, follow us on Instagram and Facebook and share this appeal to help overturn this perverse conviction.

You can also find more information at freesiyanda.com and sign the petition at Change.org

I appreciate you taking the time to read this and a really big thank you for your support and kind donations.