#RIPKaraboMokoena: Men show support to Mokoena family during murder trial
JOHANNESBURG - The men's forum has promised to maintain their presence and demonstrate outside Court whenever Sandile Mantsoe appears in in court.
Gauteng Social Development Men’s Forum demonstrated outside the South Gauteng High Court in solidarity with the family of #KaraboMokoena on 20 April while her murder accused, Sandile Mantsoe, was appearing in court.
Forum members had placards and sang outside court to show their support for the Mokoena family, and even gave hugs to Karabo’s mother, Lolo Mokoena.
Mongezi Mhlanga, spokesperson for the men’s forum, said the demonstration was to support the family after their daughter was hurt by a person who was supposed to be her protector.
Read: #RIPKaraboMokoena: Arresting officer testifies in Sandile Mantsoe’s murder trial
Mantsoe appeared in court for the fifth day of his trial on 20 April where he is charged with murder, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and defeating the ends of justice. He is accused of killing his ex-girlfriend, disposing of her body in a shallow grave in Lyndhurst and setting her alight.
Mantsoe, who took the stand for the first time on day three (18 April), denied killing Mokoena but admitted to disposing of the body and setting her alight, testifying that he was scared. He later testified that Mokoena committed suicide on 28 April last year.
He was arrested at his Sandton Skye apartment on 10 May 2017, after the Mokoena family opened a case of a missing person with the police.
Outside Court on 20 April, Mhlanga said their demonstration was to show support for the family during this difficult time.
Read: LIVE TWEETS: Karabo Mokoena is laid to rest
He said the support was to show that not all #menaretrash and to also encourage other men to also fight the scourge of violence in their communities.
“This case has attracted a lot of publicity and as a men’s forum we wanted to stand in solidarity with the Mokoena family and say it’s not only them who lost a daughter but we also lost a sister in Karabo,” said Mhlanga.
“We’re aggrieved by what happened to Karabo and her family, and thus we’re demonstrating here outside court to show our support. We will be demonstrating throughout the trial in our quest to support the family during this challenging time.”
Mhlanga said as a men’s forum, their programme is linked to the annual 16 Days of Activism Against Women and Children Abuse and they are using this time again to mobilise men in the society to fight violence in their communities as well as in their homes.
Read: #RIPKaraboMokoena: Damning testimonies heard during murder trial
He said men are often referred to as perpetrators of violence against women and children, and the forum aims to show that not all men are like that. “As men, we should not be painted with the same brush and we want men to stand up against violence in general.
“For those men who are struggling and continue to violate the rights of women and children we invite them to join our men’s forum so that they can deal with their ordeal.”
To the Mokoena family, Mhlanga said they will stand by them and support them throughout the trial.
Details: Mongezi Mhlanga 072 678 7251; mongezimthethwa@gauteng.gov.za
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