Daughter of slain mother thankful for support, urges police to finalise the case
Francis Van Der Merwe was brutally killed on December 16, 2023. Now, her daughter, Lebohang Papo, is calling on the Rabie Ridge police to finalise the case and give her some much sought after answers.
Lebohang Papo, Francis van der Merwe’s daughter, recalls how she was informed of her late mother’s tragic murder. She spoke shortly after the peaceful march on November 21, during the national gender-based violence (GBV) shutdown.
About 250 Rabie Ridge community members gathered at Darter Park, before marching to the police station, following the alleged delays in updating the family on the murder case, to deliver a memorandum of demands.
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Papo, Van Der Merwe’s eldest daughter, said her mother, also known as Twiggy, was found by her bedside, in a pool of blood, on December 16, 2023.
She said that, almost two years later, dealing with the loss of her mother has been hectic for her whole family and community.
“My mother and I were friends. We were very close. On the day that she was murdered, we spoke around 15:00, when she wanted to visit me in Soweto, because now I’m married and stay in Soweto.
I asked her not to come, because I was also planning to come this side to bring my child to her. My mother was a loving person, and she would share her last cent or food.”
She said Van Der Merwe had a fun personality, which is why there was such a turnout on the day.
Papo shared that she has lost faith in the justice system, just like many South Africans who have been victims of crimes, with their cases also dragging on for a considerable time.
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“I’ve accepted that my mom is no more. I won’t kill the person/people who have done this to my family, but I’ve lost faith in the justice system, just like some of the people who have lost that faith. I believe that my mother’s case is solvable.”
Organised by the youth movement, the memorandum called for urgent resolutions, including an immediate investigation and a formal update on the status of Van Der Merwe’s case, concrete steps to address the backlog of GBV cases within the Rabie Ridge precinct, and enhanced measures to support victims of GBV and their families, ensuring their well-being and restoring faith in law enforcement.
Acting Station Commander at the Rabie Ridge Police Station, Lieutenant Colonel AJ van der Walt, received the memorandum. He said they will provide feedback after three weeks.
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