A man (30) appeared in the Magistrate’s Court in Cullinan on April 4 for the rape and murder of his minor cousin.
Police in an armoured vehicle escorted him after the postponement of the case to April 11.
The victim’s mother, said, “I hope and pray that justice prevails. I raised my daughter alone for a long time since my husband passed away.”
The victim’s cousin allegedly raped her on March 24. Her mother opened a missing person case when she did not come home.
The victim was last seen with her cousin, so the family went to his house, where they found her on the floor naked, gagged, and her hands tied behind her back.
ALSO READ: RDP houses and residential stands divide eMbalenhle community
The cousin fled the scene but handed himself to the police later that same day. The Refilwe community united in candlelight on March 3 to mourn the girl’s death due to GBV.
For many residents in Refilwe, her death was a reminder of the fragility of life and the harsh realities women face daily.
Wanting justice, people from Ekangala, Cullinan and Pretoria came together, transcending their differences.
Her funeral was on March 30, and she is at rest in Refilwe Cemetery.
Mncedi Ndzwanana, the speaker of council from Tshwane, also attended the funeral and offered his condolences to the family.
