Umlalazi Mayor Queen Xulu has called on police to intensify investigations into the killing of women and children.

Her plea follows after a spate of murders of women in the province, and, more specifically, following the killing of a woman in uMlalazi’s Ward 7 last Wednesday.

The woman’s body was found face-down in bushes not far from her home, after she had been reported missing.

Reports reveal that she was cornered and killed by an intruder who attempted to steal from her home-based spaza shop. This allegedly occurred while her husband and son were away for work.

“I am perturbed by the recent spate of murdered women. Most of these incidents present themselves as pre-meditated murders and calls for the harsh sentencing of perpetrators,” said Xulu, who is also chairperson of the Salga Women Commission in KZN.

“We call for police to leave no stone unturned when investigating, in the interest of justice prevailing. It is disgusting and shameful that this province has become the epicentre of these gruesome and notorious acts.

“Another disturbing story went viral in the last week, of a Nongoma senior citizen who was raped for almost the whole night by an intruder. She reportedly lived by herself,” she said.

Xulu further urged communities not to allow defenceless women to live in isolation as it has been proven that they become victims of rape and murder.