Kwa-Thema – “We need government, police and the community to work together to fight against gender-based violence.
“We have lost friends, loved ones to gender-based violence and we are now saying enough is enough.”
These were the words of the CEO of One Strong Voice Foundation, Tholakele Mlangeni.
The foundation advocates for gender-based violence and femicide victims and their families.
It was formed after the death of Thembisile Yende whose body was found in her office at the Eskom Pieterboth Substation in Springs in May 2017.
Mlangeni was speaking in Kwa-Thema during the commencement of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children Campaign which takes place annually from November 25 to December 10.
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“As her friends, we were concerned about how her case and other gender-based violence cases were handled by the police and our courts.
“We decided to formally organise ourselves to be the mouth piece of the victims, families and the community.
“Through our joint efforts, we were able to have the murder case of Thuto Theko and Refiloe Moshime reviewed by the NPA after it was thrown out the Springs Magistrate’s Court due to lack of evidence against the accused, Themba Ndlozi.
“We were not happy about how the case was handled.
“Our joint efforts saw the accused being found guilty by the Pretoria North High Court,” she said.
Mlangeni explained they are pursuing the NPA to review the case of Ayanda Simelane whose body was found behind the rental rooms in Mokhitli Street in Phomolo Section in May 2018.
The case was withdrawn by the Springs Magistrate’s Court due to lack of evidence.
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“We don’t understand what lack of evidence is referred to when the magistrate presiding over the case went as far as setting the trial date and only then it was discovered there was lack of evidence.
“We are hoping the case will be reviewed and placed back on the court roll and have a successful conviction.
“We are concerned about the number of gender-based violence cases that vanish into thin air.
“If we work together as civil organisations, community members, police and the courts, we will be able to suffocate the monster that is gender-based violence,” she said.
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