It’s festive season, a time for family, and a time for celebration, but it’s a different story for two families who lost their daughters in a tragic Gender-Based Violence and Femicide incident that left a great deal of heartbreak and devastation for the community of eMalahleni.

Shortly into Women’s Month, a month meant to celebrate and honour women, the most devastating news broke, announcing the passing of Nompumelelo Gamede (21) and Antoinette Hill (23), who were allegedly torched by a man, in Kwa-Guqa, who was a boyfriend and a sister, respectively, to the women.

Although time has passed, the wound still feels the same for the affected families who have to cope with their daughters’ absence, and while many are excited for the festive season, they are still stuck with the thought of having to spend their first Christmas without them.

“It is really difficult to move on without Nompumelelo because we can feel the void she has left, especially during this festive season,” said Moses Nyundu, Gamede’s father, adding that they continue to trust and rely on God for the strength that will carry them through.

Nyundu expressed that the only thing that would ease their pain and help them move past everything is seeing justice prevail.

“If only justice could prevail, it would also put me at ease and maybe help me to accept that I won’t be seeing my daughter again, but even the person responsible also won’t be setting foot in his home ever again,” he said.

According to Nyundu, Mpumelelo Hill allegedly doused petrol on his daughter, who was his girlfriend, on July 23, after a heated argument the couple had, together with Antoinette, his sister, who reportedly tried to intervene, and set them alight, leaving them locked in a room to burn.

The 35-year-old has since been behind bars, facing two counts of murder as the two women died weeks later at the hospital.

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