A protection order issued against her 50-year-old ex-boyfriend in 2014 was not enough to secure the safety of a 36-year-old woman last Wednesday.
Suzan Nthoba’s 78-year-old aunt, Annah Mdedetyane describes the victim as a praying woman, a preacher and a kind-hearted mother who had an undying love for her children. She tearfully recalls the night her niece was murdered in Greenfield.
According to her, the suspect, Thamsanqa Voyi, came to Nthoba’s home that night and sent her 7-year-old daughter out to buy a cool drink.
“On her way to the tuck-shop, she heard her mother screaming and went back to see what was wrong. When she went into the house she saw the man stabbing her mother, says Annah.
The mother took the child in her arms but, instead of softening, Voyi lunged at her in his rage and nicked the girl’s arm with the blade.
After delivering the fatal stab wound, the suspect flung her mother’s body onto the bedroom floor and fled the scene.
The hysterical child ran screaming to the neighbour, who then called the police.
According to the SAPS spokesperson, Const. Kelebogile Trom, the police received the call at 18:45. They arrived to find the body with several stab wounds. Voyi handed himself to the police half an hour later.
Photo: Selogile Leshage
The incident has left deep scars on the family of the deceased. According to the family, the little girl is struggling to sleep and suffers severe flashbacks. She trembles violently in her sleep and often wakes up screaming, “No, Mama!” Annah believes the court failed them when they released the suspect after being arrested for raping the victim a few months ago. She says he should have been kept behind bars because he has also contravened the protection order several times.
“Our child would still be alive if they kept him in jail,” she says bitterly.
“My niece was so loving. She struggled to evade this monster for a very long time. The two were in a relationship for about 3 years but it was stormy because he was abusive and had a jealous streak,” she says.
According to Annah, the suspect would stalk Suzan in shopping malls and tracked her every movement.
“My niece lived in fear, even on her way to work,” she says. The family is opposing bail and wants the suspect to be sentenced for a very long time.
Suzan will be buried on Saturday; she leaves behind her two children, a 13-year-old son and 7-year-old daughter
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