Body of Ayanda found in Phomolo Section
“Witnesses who were also at the tavern say they say saw Ayanda fighting with a guy at a distance and could not identify him".
KwaThema – The body of Ayanda Simelane (22) was found behind the rental rooms in Mokhitli Street in Phomolo Section on Saturday morning.
KwaThema police spokesperson Warrant Officer Peter Tebeila says it is alleged the deceased went out clubbing in the area with her boyfriend, Thulani Xaba, on Saturday evening.
“Thulani told the police that an altercation broke out between Ayanda and three girls.
“He allegedly left to go to the bathroom but when he returned, he could not find his girlfriend anywhere.
“He called the family to find out if she was at home but no one picked up his calls.”
Tebeila says the body was found three streets away from the tavern.
“Witnesses who were also at the tavern say they saw Ayanda fighting with a guy at a distance but could not identify him.
“No one has been arrested but police investigations are underway.
“We are calling for anyone with information that could help with the investigations to come forward,” he says.
The deceased’s sister, Dipuo Malobane, says her mother received a call at about 1am on Saturday morning from Thulani to say Ayanda was missing.
“He called again 30 minutes later, crying that he still couldn’t find her.
“In the morning, we decided to go to the police to report her missing because we couldn’t get hold of her.
“We were shocked when the police told us the woman we were reporting missing fit the description of the body of a woman who had been found in Phomolo Section that morning,” she says.
During his visit to the family on Wednesday, ANC chief whip of council Jongizizwe Dlabathi condemned the spate killing of women and children in the area. He urged men to stand up and speak out.
Dlabathi says the spate of killing of women reminds us of the murder of Thembisile Yende, who was found killed in her Eskom office this time last year.
“Justice hasn’t been served and some of the people suspected to be linked to the case haven’t been arrested to date.
“We are calling on the justice system to stop dragging their feet and ensure that the perpetrators receive the harshest sentences.
“If this is not done, society will lose trust and patience in the justice system and end up taking the law into their own hands,” he says.
The chief whip says community members need to rise and organise themselves and have a campaign that calls for an end to the abuse and killing of women and children.
