The recent increase in gender-based violence (GBV) has raised concern. The two latest incidents of violence against women again put the spotlight on this senseless crime. The first incident involved the arrest of a 53-year-old man from Mashishing for allegedly causing the death of his girlfriend by burning her with boiling water. He was apprehended and arrested by the local SAPS last Friday.
According to Capt Alfred Moela, spokesperson for Lydenburg SAPS, the murder suspect appeared in the Lydenburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday. “Moses Jabulani Ngwana was arrested for murder after he had a fight with his girlfriend over money last Tuesday. It is alleged that he poured boiling water on her back during the fight. “Not only did the victim sustain serious burns, but he also kept her locked up in his house for more than a day without any medical assistance.
The woman died on Thursday. “The family called Tswelopele undertakers to remove the body on Thursday, without informing the police of the incident. The police received information on Friday that a person had been murdered and taken to a private mortuary.
“Police went to the house and upon questioning the suspect confessed that he killed his girlfriend. Police went to the mortuary where they summoned all relevant stakeholders and the deceased was taken to the state mortuary by the Mpumalanga pathologist.
“The suspect was then arrested and detained at Lydenburg SAPS.” Ngwana was remanded in the police cells and will appear for a formal bail application on September 29.
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In another occurrence last week a man from Coromandel assaulted his ex-girlfriend. He allegedly hit her in the face with a hammer and a panga. Moela said the suspect is still at large. “The victim was taken to hospital and fortunately she is still alive,” he said.
Meanwhile, an incident of an alleged kidnapping and rape was reported to police on the same weekend.
However, Lydenburg police say they are distancing themselves from the matter.
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“We discovered that it was a false kidnapping. The couple were found at Lydenburg Museum. The young woman confirmed that she had not been kidnapped and she knows the person who was identified as the kidnapper.
Necessary procedure was followed where it was established that no assault had taken place. No case was opened,” explained Moela. He added that he would like to urge the community to help fight the scourge of GBV in town and the surrounding areas.
