Shawela women dig grave in GBV protest
Giyani women broke tradition to dig a GBV victim’s grave, demanding justice and change after her murder by her boyfriend.
LIMPOPO – In a powerful statement against gender-based violence (GBV), the women of Shawela dug the grave of a victim themselves, a task usually reserved for men, after she was killed, allegedly by her boyfriend.
Read more: Giyani police search for man after girlfriend killed
The suspect, Goodenough Nkuna, 45, appeared in court last Wednesday regarding the death of his 36-year-old girlfriend, Bongi Mhlongo. The case has been postponed to October 3. Nkuna abandoned his bail application, reportedly fearing community reprisals.
According to police, the suspect, who is not originally from Shawela, visited his girlfriend on Saturday night. An argument is believed to have broken out, leading to the alleged brutal killing.
Mhlongo’s body was discovered the following Sunday morning, lying in a pool of blood. Nkuna was later arrested on Monday and appeared briefly in court last Wednesday.
Community members expressed deep anger and sadness over the incident and closed the road on Monday, demanding swift justice.
Also read: Limpopo police urge calm after Shawela murder
The protest later calmed down due to intervention from several stakeholders and the chief, Hosi Mahumani, who condemned the killing, saying he felt ashamed that a fellow man had allegedly committed such a crime in his village. Mahumani added that if the suspect had been from Shawela, he would not want to return because of the community’s anger.
To prevent incidents like this from happening again in the village, Mahumani announced plans to hold a dialogue session with men to address the importance of emotional intelligence.
“We need to talk to men about emotional intelligence so that they learn how to manage their anger in the future. Many men turn to drinking and smoking as a way of coping, often without considering the impact on their emotional well-being,” he said.
Also read: Shawela murder suspect arrested in 24 hours
Meanwhile, the women of Shawela have demonstrated solidarity by taking on a role traditionally reserved for men. After meeting with the chief, they set out to dig the victim’s grave themselves, a powerful statement against GBV.
“Normally, graves are dug by men, but in this case, I made an exception and allowed the women to carry out the task in solidarity with the victim,” he explained.
Hosi Mahumani further urged women across communities to speak out against abuse and to leave toxic relationships.
“Times have changed. Unlike in the past, when women stayed in marriages out of endurance, today people stay together out of love,” he said, encouraging women to speak up and not remain silent in abusive relationships.
He added that the Shawela community remains shaken but united in their call for justice and change, as the victim’s memory sparks a renewed conversation about gender-based violence and emotional health among men.
Meanwhile, Mhlongo was laid to rest over the weekend in Shawela village.
