By Anita Dangazele
Just a week into the 16 Days of Activism for no violence against women and children, gender-based violence has reared its ugly head again in the rural Eastern Cape.
Two women have been mercilessly killed and a teenager robbed of her virginity.
Two of the victims come from the remote town of Ngcobo, both murdered by men in the most gruesome way, while the 15-year-old girl from Ncise in Mthatha was raped by a 42-year-old neighbour.
The first victim, a 41-year-old woman, was killed in front of her elderly mother, aged 91, and two minor children aged 10 and 11.
According to police spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu, a stranger came to Thozama Myeko’s home and said he was there to kill her.
“It is alleged that a man came to Thozama’s home in Gubenxe village, Ngcobo in the middle of the night and knocked on the door saying, “I’m outside, I’ve come to kill you, Thozama,” Naidu said.
While the family was paralysed with shock, the suspect allegedly kicked in the door and pulled Thozama outside, where he butchered her.
In another gruesome murder in the village of Ngquru, near Ngcobo, 20-year-old Asiphe Zukelwa was allegedly beaten to death by her partner after he saw her talking to another man.
Zukelwa’s boyfriend allegedly confronted her and proceeded to beat her mercilessly without any intervention from the public. He then allegedly took her to his home in a wheelbarrow.
It is not known if she was already dead when he moved her with the wheelbarrow but her body was discovered on Friday the 24 November in his bedroom after community members contacted the police due to an unbearable stench.
Meanwhile at Ncise village in Mthatha, a 15-year-old girl who was part of Inkciyo, a cultural group for young girls aiming to preserve their virginity until marriage, was reportedly raped by her 42-year-old neighbour.
He is a married man with children. The horrific incident happened on Tuesday and was immediately reported to the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit.
Children’s rights activist Petros Majola said people are losing hope in the justice system.
“People are in jail one day, the next we see them walking freely in our communities. We always applaud the president for his speeches during these gender-based violence and femicide events but it ends there. No further action is taken to make sure that perpetrators are punished,” Majola said.
Police say no arrests have been made in Thozama’s case, while in Zukelwa’s case the court opted not to prosecute.
Meanwhile the suspect in the case of the 15-year-old is set to appear in court soon.
Pictured: One of the victims, Asiphe Zukelwa (20) was allegedly brutally murdered by her partner.
Image: Facebook
