LIMPOPO – Makoma Makhurupetje, Limpopo MEC for Community Safety and Transport has condemned the murders of women in two separate incidents which happened in Nkowakowa and Ritavi.

In the first incident, a 34-year-old woman was stabbed to death while at home in Nkowakowa Section D on 22 March. The woman was stabbed by a man believed to be her ex-boyfriend. Police have since arrested a 38-year-old suspect in connection with the murder and the suspect appeared before the Nkowakowa Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, 26 March on a murder charge and has been remanded in custody until 4 April.

In the second incident, a 25-year-old woman, identified as Maite Mabasa, was shot five times at her homestead in Lephephane village, allegedly by her boyfriend. The suspect managed to flee but a manhunt has been set up to find him.

“It is apparent to me, in both these cases, that gender based violence is the common denominator. The suspects are people who had a duty to care for the victims, but ironically became the ones who betrayed them. Our province will not perpetually accept that women should become helpless targets of violence at the hands of their partners. Perpetrators of these evil deeds deserve to be punished with lengthy jail sentences with no option of bail,” she said in a statement released.

While she says she extends her deepest condolences to the families of the deceased, Makhurupetje has strongly condemned the two women’s murders as despicable acts of cowardice.

“The arrest of the 38-year-old suspect by Ritavi police is highly commendable and gives us hope that the suspect involved in the murder of Maite Mabasa will also be caught sooner rather than later. We call upon anyone with evidence to come forward and help the police to apprehend the suspect,” concluded Makhurupetje.

raeesak@nmgroup.co.za