JOHANNESBURG, June 4 (NNN-SANEWS) — Putting a stop to gender-based violence and femicide is a national priority with maximum resources being deployed to investigate such cases and to track down the perpetrators, Police Deputy Minister, Dr Polly Boshielo, said.
The Deputy Minister said this during a visit to the home of 14-year-old Lukhona Fose in Roodepoort, near Johannesburg, on Monday.
Her family reported her missing to the police when she didn’t return home and her mutilated body was later discovered in a veld a day later. She was found naked from the waist down, with cuts on both her lower and upper body.
She was found a week after 30-year-old Olorato Mongale’s lifeless body was found dumped in Lombardy West.
“The ongoing targeting of women, young girls and vulnerable groups remain a concern,” said the Deputy Minister adding that it cannot be business as usual when women are attacked and killed on a weekly basis.
“It cannot be normal when a 14-year-old girl’s private part is mutilated and removed. The SAPS occult unit has been roped in to investigate this matter. The SAPS occult unit is responsible for investigating all cases where body parts are removed from victims for various reasons including a hate crime or muthi crime.”
Boshielo said it was possible that the girl was targeted for her sexuality, making it a hate crime or her body parts were mutilated for muthi purposes.
“Our investigations are ongoing, and maximum resources have been roped in to find those that are behind the killing of this young woman.
“The fight against gender-based violence is indeed a priority that requires a collective response. We need everyone on board, everyone in society. It must be a shared responsibility to address the root causes of violence and create a safer environment for women. We have full faith and confidence in the team that has been appointed by the Provincial Commissioner to investigate the matter, that in no time, a breakthrough will be registered,” the Deputy Minister said.
The Deputy Minister urged women to be vigilant of their surroundings.
“We urge women and young girls in the country to be extra vigilant of their surroundings and not to be so trusting, always report their whereabouts to their parents, friends and guardians,” she said.
The Deputy Minister was accompanied by the Deputy Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Steve Letsike. — NNN-SANEWS