Community lights candles for slain women

Residents of Windmill Park, Villa Liza, as well as various political parties, Dawn Park police and friends of Retshedisitsoe Phatswane and Tshepiso Ntomane, held a candlelight service on January 7 in the veld in Windmill Park near the Rooikraal landfill site where the two women’s bodies were found on January 3.

The stakeholders lit their candles next to the crime scene and took turns to condemn the culprits who killed the two women.

Thamasanqa Makhanya, a deputy chairperson of the EFF who lives in Windmill Park (Ward 99), emphasised that leaders need to go back to the drawing board and reinforce discipline among their communities.

“What has happened here is shocking. I hope the police will find the perpetrators because we want these killings to stop,” Makhanya uttered.

Tsholofeleo Bodlani, who came from Alberton to the candlelight session, said women must not just protest but also need to call out the perpetrators.

“It is useless to protest with placards that have condemnation messages. As women, we must call out the perpetrators. Most importantly, those who know anything about what happened to these women must take that information to the police,” Bodlani said.

One of the friends of the killed woman, Retshepisitsoe Moshoeshoe (25), said the two women were on their way to her that day but never arrived.

She is deeply hurt by what has happened and is mourning their death.

“I still can’t believe that my friends are dead. I came to this candlelight ceremony to find closure.

“My late friends’ families informed me they will be buried in different areas – Retsedisitsoe here in Villa Liza and Tshepiso in the Eastern Cape,” Moshoeshoe said.

Another friend, Nthabiseng Rammone (28), added that she is having sleepless nights about what happened to her friends and will always remember them.

PR councillor for the ACDP Linda Yates said she came to the candlelight service to show respect to the two women and to support the bereaved families and communities.

Also Read: Windmill Park residents call for change

Also Read: Windmill Park: Bodies of two women found in veld