Family and friends pay tribute to Nomqhele Maseko
The family believed that if the police offered a reward in return for privacy and protection to the witnesses, a breakthrough may be made in the case.
The community of KaBokweni and surrounding areas came to pay their last respects to Nomqhele Michelle Maseko who was recently brutally killed. Her decomposing body was found on April 3.
The police had made no arrests. Their investigations continue. Nomqhele’s funeral service was attended by throngs of heartbroken young and old people at eNdumisweni Church in the Mangozeni Trust.
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Teachers from her former and current schools described her as a focused, respectful and active child. “I remember asking her about her future plans.
Nomqhele told me she wanted to be a medical journalist. She was a very brilliant child. She was part of our learners who wrote articles and contributed to Lowveld Media publications, under the Partners for Possibilities programme with the media house,” said BM Shongwe of Vulemehlo Combined School. She described Nomqhele’s death as huge loss to the entire community.
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Eugene Manana, a member of the ANC Youth League National Task Team, said, “We want to see progress and have suspects arrested, prosecuted and convicted for the brutal murder of Nomqhele.
“We want to ensure that the society becomes a safe society, especially for young girls. We want to conscientise the police that they must work hard. Their response to this matter was very slow. We are not satisfied at all.
“Even the response they gave learners when they organised themselves and marched to the police station was not satisfactory.
We even had to involve the provincial police commissioner to intervene; it was only then that the station commander took action,” he said.
He added that there was lack of police visibility in the area in general.
On Tuesday, Nomqhele’s uncle, Sicelo Maseko, said “We are worried that we have received no major progress. We are still waiting for the police. We believe that if a reward may be offered, they may make their arrest soon for the family to get closure,” . Maseko added that they gave the police Nomqhele’s phone which they believe will assist the police in their investigations. Shirley Nsimba, spokesperson for KaBokweni Police Station said, “Investigations in the matter still continue. No arrests have been made so far.”
