Newly elected Mpumalanga MEC for Security, Safety and Liaison (DCSSIL), Mr Petrus Ngomane, has pledged his full support for the Ndlovu family after the tragic death of their 16-year-old daughter, Mbali Msidi, who was raped before being strangled to death on Saturday 13 August.
Her body was discovered in a water-filled ditch near the Mpumalanga Stadium in Wesselton early the following day
MEC Ngomane visited the family on Sunday where he conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the visibly distraught family members.
He was accompanied by, among others, the Provincial Police Commissioner, Lt Gen Mondi Zuma, Msukaligwa Local Municipality Mayor Mr Solomon Nkosi and Head of the Department of Community Safety and Liaison Mr William Mthombothi.
The MEC said although it was still painful for the family in dealing with such a horrific loss, it was a relief to know that the suspect has been apprehended.
Mr Ngomane said the police were to be commended for the swift arrest of the suspect and that the perpetrator, if found guilty, should “rot in jail”.
“We cannot afford to have our freedom of movement taken away by some rascals who are hell-bent on terrorising our communities,” he said.
As part of the support to the family, a task team consisting of officials from DCSSL and the police had been formed and was expected to assist the family with funeral arrangements and trauma counsellingc.
Upon seeing the level of hardship suffered by the family and the surrounding neighbourhood, the MEC indicated that it was important that provision of housing and other services to the area was fat tracked. The family currently lives in a dilapidated shack.
He has also called on the Department of Social Development to assist the family with on-going post-trauma counselling that should extend well beyond the funeral.
Mbali was laid to rest on Tuesday.
The suspect appeared briefly in the Ermelo Magistrate’s Court last week.
The case was postponed to Friday 2 September for a formal bail application.
