On October 9 2022, a beautiful girl went missing in Benoni. Eight days later, her mutilated body was found. Her family was left heartbroken forever.
Bokgabo Diseko Poo was only four years old when she was lured away from a park where she was playing with her friends. Her body was later found, but only parts of it, leaving her family searching for closure.
Ntokozo Khulekani Zikhali was out on bail awaiting his trial for allegedly raping a nine-year-old girl.
After Bokgabo’s disappearance, CCTV footage revealed that Zikhali was the last person to be seen with her, and he was soon arrested and charged with her murder.
I watched a video online of Bokgabo’s father talking about his daughter’s murder; he fights back tears as the community marches behind him, demanding justice for Bokgabo.
Unfortunately, Zikhali was acquitted on all charges relating to Bokgabo. According to the National Prosecuting Authority in Gauteng, the state’s evidence was inconclusive and was ruled inadmissible.
Bokgabo’s family feels that the justice system failed them. Instead of celebrating birthdays, they are fighting tears. She would have turned six on January 12 this year.
Zikhali was found guilty on the rape charge of the other victim and sent to prison for life. We are left realising, yet again, that if this rapist was denied bail, this could have all been prevented, and Bokgabo would be home with her family.
Action Society, a civil rights organisation, will be lobbying for a change in procedure regarding sex offenders. “No one with a previous conviction or pending case of a sexual offence against them should be allowed to be released on bail,” said Tshepi Mmekwa, coordinator at Action Society.
The harsh reality is that in South Africa, children get murdered all too often. In the 2022/2023 year, the crime statistics were alarmingly high, according to previous Police Minister Bheki Cele. Between January and June, 549 children under the age of 17 were murdered in South Africa.
That is an average of three children a day.
Unacceptable.
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