Friday, February 2, 2024 – A teacher and mother were shot dead and then set alight in the Mthekwini area, in northern KwaZulu-Natal on Thursday.
In a media statement issued by the Department of Social
Development, the MEC, Nonhlanhla Khoza, expressed sorrow following the murder
of the two women in Hluhluwe.
“The victims, Mabusi Manqele (41) a teacher from Hluhluwe,
her daughter and her mother, Sarafina MaMkhize Manqele (78) fell prey to a
brutal attack in the early hours of Thursday while asleep in their homestead,”
said the statement.
It is alleged that the attacker[s] stormed in the homestead
and opened fire on the three women, and then set alight their home. The
deceased were burnt beyond recognition.
“The
daughter, thankfully, survived being shot in the arm during the assault.
Residents of Ward 11, under Big 5 Hlabisa Local Municipality, have witnessed
several heinous murders targeting women, with the perpetrators still at large,”
said the statement.
Khoza
extended her heartfelt condolences to the grieving Manqele family, teachers,
and community, urging individuals with information that could lead to the
arrest of the perpetrators to bring it to the attention of law enforcement
agencies.
Expressing
deep concern about the ongoing violence against women in society, Khoza called
for collective action and stressed the need for men to actively contribute to
creating safe environments for women.
“It
is time to stand up against the abuse of women and children in our communities.
We need to unite against these atrocities.”
She
further urged the community to work together in a concerted effort to end these
senseless acts of brutality directed at women.
“The
killing of women sets the gains of democracy back in our province and the
country. We are known as a province with a high rate of violent crime, and that
needs to change. It is disheartening that women are not safe even in their
homes,” added MEC Khoza.
We
need to ensure that criminals are not hidden but are apprehended by the police.
The
statement added that Khoza has dispatched a team of social workers to provide
psycho-social support to the grieving family and the school where the deceased
teacher worked.
0 Comments