UPDATE: Friend speaks highly of murdered Mpakanyane
The community of Wattville was left shattered as they woke up to the news that 86-year-old, Hermina Mmule Mpakanyane was found murdered in her house.
Mpakanyane’s body was found in the early hours of October 13, in Dube Street, Wattville.
Ekurhuleni Central Cluster spokesperson Capt Nomsa Sekele said a tenant of Mpakanyane discovered the body at about 5am.
“The tenant saw that the burglar bars of the window into Mpakanyane’s bedroom were tampered with; the tenant then went inside to see what was going on,” Sekele said.
Sekele added that Mpakanyane was found dead, lying on the floor.
Police believe that she was suffocated.
Sekele said nothing was stolen from the house.
A friend and ANC activist, Thembi Gilima said Mpakanyane was a schoolteacher, community leader and activist.
“She worked underground during apartheid, her house was bombed several times prior to 1990 and she was a strong woman who survived torture,” said Gilima.
Gilima added that Mpakanyane was a dedicated leader who mentored the youth in the community.
Ekurhuleni executive mayor, Clr Mzwandile Masina has called for a harsh sentence against anyone arrested in connection with the murder.
“This is a very shocking incident, only a person with a twisted mind can commit such a heinous crime against a defenceless and vulnerable person like Gogo Mpakanyane,” Masina said during his visit to the victim’s home on the morning of the incident.
“Gogo Mpakanyane was an activist of the ANC. Many comrades used to meet and find shelter at her home during the height of the struggle.
“She continued being an active member until her death.”
Masina added that this is Oliver Tambo Month in Ekurhuleni and instead of appreciating Gogo’s (Mpakanyane’s) role in the struggle for liberation, “these thugs decided to brutally murder her”.
“Oliver Tambo and many others, including Gogo (Mpakanyane) must be celebrated because they fought for a non-sexist, non-racial, democratic and prosperous country – lest everyone understands this, we will continue to experience such brutality,” Masina said.
Masina has called on the community not to take the law into their hands, but to rather share the information on the perpetrators with the police.
“We cannot take the law into our own hands. Yes, people are angry, but two wrongs do not make a right,” he said.
“We must have trust in the justice system to handle such incidents and I wish those behind this incident face the full might of the law and get a harsh sentence.”
No arrests were made and police were still investigating the case at the time of going to print.
The family could not be reached for comment at the time of publishing.
Also read:
Three arrested 15 minutes after robbery
Case of murder suspect postponed
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