KZN Premier Thami Ntuli has strongly denounced the brutal murder of Sphindiwe Hlongwa near her home in Mkhazini, close to KwaMakhutha, on March 5.

Describing the act as barbaric, inhumane, and a direct assault on the dignity and safety of women across the province, Ntuli called for justice.

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Family spokesperson Mandisa Mfeka stated that they had all been gathered at a nearby homestead when Hlongwa left around 19:30 without mentioning her destination.

“We assumed she had gone to use an outside toilet but later that night, a girl from our area came in and said she had seen Sphindiwe lying on the side of the road,” said Mfeka.

After rushing to the scene, they found her dead with visible signs of strangulation on her neck and some indication she may have been raped. She also had a swollen face and marks on her wrists, showing that she may have been bound. Eyewitnesses said she was allegedly dumped by a person or people driving a Renault Kwid.

Premier Ntuli said perpetrators of this heinous crime should be brought to justice without delay.

“This is one of many murders linked to the scourge of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) in our province. However, working with the police under our police commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, we will make sure to treat every case as an emergency. One case at a time, we will never give up and we will do everything to defeat GBVF,” said Ntuli.

Anyone with information related to this crime is urged to come forward and assist the police by calling Crime Stop on 086 001 0111 or by reporting the information at their nearest police station.

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