Community members and advocacy group Action Society gathered at the Dawn Park Police Station to demand justice for Nonkululeko Gabriella (Gaby) Ndaba on October 6.
The Gaby, who would have turned 32-year-old on June 4, went missing on May 26, 2023, and her body was discovered under the N17 bridge on Barry Marais Road, near Van Dyk Park, east of Johannesburg, on June 1, 2023.
The intervention brought renewed attention to a case that has remained unresolved for over two years, highlighting the family’s grief and frustration over the slow pace of the investigation.
Gaby’s mother, Ntombifuthi Stander, spoke about the emotional toll the case has taken on the family. She expressed anger and disappointment over the police’s handling of her daughter’s disappearance and murder.
“From the very beginning, it felt like we were on our own. We reported Gaby missing, yet no search was initiated. We had to search for her ourselves. Two years have passed, and we still have no answers. How can a life be treated like this?”
She added that the family’s frustration only grew over time.
“We kept hoping for progress, but every call to the police ended in silence or vague promises. It’s like our pain didn’t matter to them. At that point, we decided to reach out to the Action Society, as they have helped many families dealing with murder cases.”
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The Action Society led the intervention at Dawn Park, aiming to hold the Dawn Park SAPS accountable and push for meaningful action. During the event, family members and supporters held a large poster with Gaby’s photo and a message calling for justice, placing it visibly on the station fence, symbolising their grief and demand for accountability.
The organisation secured commitments from the Dawn Park SAPS to re-examine all the evidence, including Gaby’s cellphone data, and prioritise the case as a potential kidnapping and murder investigation.
Juanita du Preez, the spokesperson for the Action Society, emphasised the need for transparency and swift action.
“This case highlights systemic failures, and we will continue to advocate for the family until justice is served. The community has the right to expect that cases like this are handled seriously and with urgency.”
For the Stander family, the intervention brought a measure of hope.
“Seeing people stand with us reminds us that we are not alone. We hope that the renewed attention will finally lead to the answers and closure we have been seeking for over two years.”
Spokesperson of the Dawn Park Police Station, Nkemeleng Mabula, confirmed that the station commander removed the current investigating officer from the case and appointed a new lead investigator. The commander also committed to providing an update on the case within two weeks.
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