Four Temba women killed by ‘loved ones’ in two months
“We have an NGO in our station called Imisebeyelanga with an auxiliary social worker who is attending all domestic-related cases."
Four women and one child in the Temba police precinct have died at the hands of their so-called loved ones in less than two months.
In July, Tebogo (29) and Ikageng (6) Lephothe were burnt to death in a shack allegedly by a man known to them.
Police spokesperson Sergeant Herman Moremi said no arrests have been made in the case,
He said police were also still awaiting post-mortem test results that will determine whether Tebogo was killed before the suspect burnt the shack.
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A month ago, a woman in Mogogelo was reportedly beaten to death with a pick axe by her husband,.
He also allegedly seriously injured his three-year-old son.
The husband later died in hospital after he was assaulted by community members for the incident.
Three weeks ago, Lerato Granny Madunda’s ex-boyfriend hanged himself a day after he was questioned by police regarding her disappearance.
Madunda’s body was found two days after he killed himself.
She left behind two children, aged five and eight.
Two weeks ago, Thato Radebe died after she was allegedly fatally stabbed with a knife by her ex-boyfriend in what police described as “a fit of jealousy”.
Police said the inquest cases in Granny Madunda and Mogogelo’s deaths have been closed since the suspects were dead.
“There are no further investigations,” said Moremi.
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He advised anyone who was being abused to seek help immediately and report any domestic-related incidents whether they were emotional or verbal abuse.
“They can escalate into a serious incident like murder.
“And there are police and social workers who can help to prevent this loss of lives.”
Police were also using radio talk shows and awareness campaigns in which they distributed domestic violence pamphlets, he said.
“We have an NGO in our station called Imisebeyelanga with an auxiliary social worker who is attending all domestic-related cases.
“To the families who lost their loved ones, the station would like to send our condolences. We need whatever information that can assist to track down wanted suspects. Families must not sit with information that can help us trace the right suspects.”
He said that domestic incidents happened in the privacy of people’s homes most of the time, which made it difficult for police to prevent such incidents.
“The police and the community need to work together to fight this. Parents must monitor and give guidance and support to their kids. In that way, they will notice any behavioural changes in people. They must report a missing person immediately and not to wait for three or more days.”
During a press briefing by police minister Bheki Cele last week, Temba, Hammanskraal was named number eight in a list of top 30 gender-based violence hotspots in the country.
Cele said the list was compiled based on nine key variables, including the number of cases reported to the SAPS during the 2019/2020 financial year.
He said these cases included rape, human trafficking for sexual offences and kidnapping for sexual offences.
“Figures of reported domestic violence related cases of murder, rape, attempted murder and assault were also considered when compiling this list. The hotspots list also includes calls related to domestic violence and gender-based violence received.”
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