Reiger Park police held an emotional service to raise awareness on gender-based violence (GBV), and to commemorate their colleague Const Cynthia Monkwe who was allegedly killed by her police boyfriend in Ramaphosa.
The well-attended day-long campaign and commemoration service was recently held at the Ramaphosa Rock Church .
Among the attendees of the event described as a glorious success were the family of the slain police officer, SAPS management, representatives of the Gauteng Community Safety, Family And Marriage Society of South Africa, Ekurhuleni Department of Social Development, members of the CPF, community patrollers, Women’s Desk, Youth’s Desk, ANC Branch 42, as well as the general public.
During the event, speakers, including pastors, police and Monkwe’s family, reiterated that victims of abuse, such as domestic violence and rape, should speak out against the perpetrators, regardless of their role in the family or social status in the community.
War against scourge of domestic violence
One of the event organisers, Sgt Lufuno Mudzuli, said the scourge of domestic violence in the area, mostly meted out against women and children, prompted the police to seek divine intervention to end GBV in the township.
According to Mudzuli, their crime statistics show that the rate of violence against women and girls rises during this time of the year (festive season). For that reason, they decided to act proactively and organised this religious ceremony at the church to seek the blessings of God to help them combat crimes in the area.
“You know, as the police we can of course arrest the suspects, but we can’t arrest the demons – and that’s where our local pastors or faith-based organisations come in,” said Mudzuli.
No trust in the justice system
The event also served as a commemoration of Monkwe who was in 2014 stabbed to death outside her Ramaphosa home, allegedly by her boyfriend who served as a police officer at the same police station.
Her boyfriend was later arrested on suspicion of the murder, but was granted free bail and released. It’s, however, almost seven years since the accused disappeared and absconded from bail.
The delays in locating the suspect has prompted both Monkwe’s colleagues and family to question the investigation into the murder, saying the murder has become a cold case as the detectives assigned have failed to make any significant progress in the case.
The family members and friends said they have lost trust in the police and the justice system, in fighting GBV.
Monkwe’s father, Kwena Selepe, expressed his disappointment at the country’s criminal justice, which he said has blatantly failed his family.
“We have been let down by our criminal justice system. The decision to release the suspect and failure to locate him after he absconded from bail has left the whole family traumatised.
“It’s still difficult to find closure as we often remember that the suspect is still roaming freely while we are suffering in pain still trying to find closure for losing our daughter in a brutal manner.
“It seems the investigators are not taking the case serious because they are not giving us any feedback. It really pains us because we can’t understand that the police are for more than six years still struggling to find a known suspect – who is a South African.
“Even if he perhaps decided to hang himself after what he did, his body, whether decomposed, would have been discovered somewhere by now if the matter is being taken seriously,” said Selepe.
The Advertiser approached the SAPS for comment, and all that the provincial spokesperson Capt Makhubele could say is that the case has been in court and that one should contact the NPA.
However, a police source, who asked to remain anonymous, told the Advertiser that the case was in 2014 assigned to the Organised Crime Unit of the Provincial SAPS, and added that the lack of arrests casts serious doubt on the investigation, and reflects badly on the SAPS.
“It’s unclear if the investigation into the matter is still underway. We are also very much disappointed and frustrated in the lack of progress in the case,” said the officer.
The Advertiser sent another request for an update on the Monkwe murder investigation, and pressed for information on any progress made in terms of locating the suspect who is said to have been at large for the past seven years.
Also Read: Join Famsa in the fight against GBV
