Family and friends gathered on Saturday to lay to rest mother and fiancée Hlengiwe Msimango (30) at her birth place in Durban.
This is after she was shot and killed at her Birch Acres home on August 3.
“She was shot by her partner, who allegedly thought she was an intruder,” said Norkem Park SAPS spokesperson Sgt Johanna Madiga.
The couple had been together for about three years.
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Hlengiwe, affectionately known as Pearl, is survived by her two children, a three-year-old daughter and an eight-month-old son.
The 33-year-old man was arrested and appeared in court for bail on August 18. At the time of going to print, the outcome of court proceedings were unknown.
Shortly after her death, SA Women Fight Back initiated a petition demanding that bail not be granted.
“My parents received a phone call at about 6am from Hlengiwe’s neighbour’s, informing them they need to rush over to her Birch Acres home because they heard two gunshots,” Hlengiwe’s brother, Siyabonga Zikalala, told Express.
“When they arrived, they found the police outside and were told they aren’t allowed to enter the premises because there had been a serious incident which led to my sister’s death.
“My mother was later allowed to view her body. She found Hlengiwe lying next to her bed wearing her normal clothes – almost like she intended on going somewhere.
“Her partner was sitting in the back of the police van. He told my parents he supposedly thought there was an intruder in their home. He said he returned to the master bedroom and saw a shadow behind the curtain and started firing shots,” Siyabonga said.
Hlengiwe was born in Durban and moved to Johannesburg at the age of 13. She studied hospitality at Ekurhuleni West College.
“Her character was outgoing and yet she showed respect at all times. The last time I had spoken to her was when she checked up on me to see if I’m doing well. She always had my back,” said Zikalala.
Madiga said: “We are investigating whether this is a gender-based violence incident.
“The police urge individuals who are faced with GBV to seek help. Any form of violence is against the law.”
Lizet Rosen from the #ComeIn project said they launched the initiative that calls on locals to have an open-door policy for women who feel threatened near their premises.
“It serves as a call for all of us to get involved as a collective and it is to create awareness about GBV,” said Rosen.
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