THE uThungulu District IFP has called on the police to stamp their authority with regard to curbing criminal activities in the country.
The party was reacting to the gruesome murder last week of its member Siphesihle Noxolo Ngobese of Nqutshini Reserve, outside Ngwelezane.
Her body was found to have been raped and stabbed.
Ngobese (24) was in Grade 11 at Sihubela High School in the Mzimela Traditional Authority, and was the grandchild of prominent IFP member Doris Ngobese.
Addressing the media in their offices last week, IFP District Secretary Tobias Gumede said his party was saddened by the escalation of criminal activities in the country, while it was ‘business as usual’ for government.
‘We vehemently oppose rape and any other forms of women abuse. The criminal element in our society must be eradicated through proper policing, prosecution and sentencing.
‘We boldly say that South Africa has become a place where human life is valueless. The government should focus on building communities with high morals and values.
‘Even though we are now heading for Local Government Elections, we maintain that the incident is pure criminal, and has no political connection.
‘It is even more disturbing that the perpetrators of this crime have not yet been arrested as we speak.
‘However we want to appeal to our community members not to take the law into their hands, but to allow the justice system to take its course,’ said Gumede.
The victim’s grandmother, Doris Ngobese said she was devastated by the killing of her granddaughter.
‘I was at a funeral service of the school principal of Nongweleza High School, when I received a call to come and identify a body of a murdered school girl who was discovered lying on the ground at Ngqolothi.
‘I’m still hurt as a woman to see such barbaric act of violence in our society. We can only hope the perpetrators are brought to book,’ she added.
Uthungulu CPF Chairperson Mthunzi Mathenjwa said he was concerned about the increase of such cases, where community members get raped and murdered.
‘We appeal to community members to avoid walking alone during the night. If anyone has an information regarding this crime, they must report to the police.’
