Gogo (82) raped and murdered: ‘Lock up the killer’
Angry residents gather outside the Waterval Magistrate's Court where the 22-year-old suspect appeared in connection with the rape and murder of a 82-year-old woman.
LIMPOPO – “Whoever is responsible for the evil act on the elderly woman, needs to be removed from society.”
Councillor Percy Mashimbi, speaking these words on Wednesday, was one of several people who picketed outside the Waterval Magistrate’s Court, where a suspect appeared in connection with the rape and murder of an 82-year-old woman.
The body of granny Nyanisi Shivambu of Bungeni Mtsetweni was discovered on the morning of 5 May by her neighbour. She had several open wounds to her face and head.
Mashimbi condemned the rape and said that in a society where women should be respected and celebrated, such an act was barbaric.
“Anyone who commits such a dastardly crime is not a real man.” Mashimbi said the community wanted the suspect to “rot in jail”.
“We want him to face the might of the law, and if it means to rot in jail, let it be like that,” he said.
Provincial Police Spokesperson, Brig Motlafela Mojapelo, said the attacker seemed to have forced his way into the elderly woman’s house.
She was alone at her home and asleep when the suspect entered her house, he explained. Mojapelo said the attacker raped and stabbed his victim with a sharp object and stole her cellphone.
“The woman’s body was found by community members inside the room, and they called the police.”
A 22-year-old suspect was found in possession of the deceased’s cellphone and arrested in connection with the rape and murder.
“He was charged with theft, rape and murder, and appeared before the Waterval Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 12 May. The case was postponed to 21 July, and the suspect remains in custody. Police investigations continue.”
Meanwhile, Goggo Nyanisi’s family are still in shock. Her grandson, Bongani Ndleve, said she was a much-loved person, and for her to have been killed in such a cruel manner is unbelievable.
“Imagine a defenceless granny being raped and strangled. We were robbed of a very loving grandmother, who made sure that we got whatever we wanted. I accepted her death, but I will never forgive the murderer. The murderer does not deserve to live with people, but with wild animals in the bush.”
The angry mob, who gathered outside the courtyard, welcomed the court’s decision to keep the suspect in custody.
Abel Khosa, a community representative who was part of the picketing crowd, said the scourge of murder and rape in the area had caused tempers to reach boiling point. “Everyone must stand up and fight. We cannot allow these criminals to roam freely in our communities, all murderers must be removed from our community. If something is not done now, we are all going to perish as a result. We will never rest until we win this war against these cruel people, who live on human blood,” he said.
