[VIDEOS] ‘We should send a clear message to criminals’

POLOKWANE – On Thursday (August 18) afternoon, residents came out in their numbers to pay their respects to Lindie Oberholzer (52).

The Women Taking Back Safety campaign organised an event at Vleislapa in Marshall Street, where she worked for many years, for residents to lay down a flower in her honour.

Various dignitaries were also in attendance and with their condolences sent a strong message to potential criminals.

Watch some of the video messages here:

‘We should protect our women and children’

Oberholzer’s brother-in-law Chris Koekemoer said everyone should come together to fight crimes against women and children. “This is a community problem, we should teach our criminals not to do [such acts]. If you come to Polokwane, you are at the wrong place [to do crime]. Go away from Polokwane, go out of Limpopo, we do not like this nonsense,” he shared.

‘We condemn such a barbaric act’

Social Development head of department Desmond Mahopo, who spoke on behalf of MEC Dr Dickson Masemola, added: “We as government condemn such a barbaric and primitive act. The issue of gender-based violence and femicide is real and continues to increase in the province. It is our wish that the police and judiciary do everything in their power so that this perpetrator is arrested.”

‘As women, we live in fear’

Women Taking Back Safety chairperson Lorraine Mothiba explained that as women, they live in fear. “They took one of our own. A mother, a sister, a friend. One death is one death too many. Women are human beings like everyone else.”

Oberholzer’s death: ‘An unimaginable shock’

Obie Oberholzer, the husband to the deceased, thanked residents for their support and understanding in this tough time. “You cannot imagine the shock of opening the door and seeing your wife lay in a pool of blood.”

View the photos here: [PHOTOS] A flower to remember Lindie Oberholzer