The Democratic Alliance Women’s Network (DAWN) in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) today calls on the South African Police Services in Nongoma to immediately arrest and convict the killer responsible for the rape and murder of a UNISA student, Thandeka Mbatha.
According to reports, 25-year-old Mbatha was a second year student at the University of South Africa studying towards a BEd. She was found in a pathway next to her home on Monday. This, after she had informed her family about a man who chased her and she was forced to run to one of the neighbours to seek assistance.
The family also reported that this was not the first time that this man had violated her.
The suspect clearly seems like someone who had an agenda and should immediately be taken in for questioning.
In a country like ours, where rape and gender-based violence is rife, anyone who is aware of such a situation should immediately report the matter to the police.
The police have clearly failed us and it is now up to us to ensure that we prevent these incidents from taking place. Our communities should be safe spaces for women and children. We all have a responsibility to ensure that they feel safe.
The killer must be arrested and convicted before he repeats this heinous act. This will also send a strong message to other perpetrators of such crimes that there is no place for them in our communities and that they should rot in jail.