Scores of mourners gathered at the funeral service of the slain Karabo Mokoena on 19 May at the Diepkloof Hall in Soweto to pay their last respects.
The service was attended by local residents, government officials, friends and neighbours of the Mokoenas who filled the hall to capacity, including a tent that was erected outside.
Ministers, Bathabile Dlamini and Susan Shabangu, as well as Gauteng MEC Thandi Maythula-Khoza and Joburg MMC Dr Mpho Phalatse also attended.
Mokoena was last seen on 28 April and her body was found dumped and burnt in the veld in Lyndhurst the next day. The family, however, only found out about her death on 10 May, even though they had reported her missing.
Read: VIDEO: Karabo Mokoena’s alleged killer charged with murder and defeating the ends of justice
Phalatse said the City of Joburg was appalled by the gruesome killing of the 22-year-old, and said, as the local government, her death had also given them a chance to reflect.
She said since the news of Mokoena’s death broke, the government has had a series of meetings to find a solution to dealing with the murder of women and children in the city.
“Her death, as well, as those of the other women reported, made us realise that, as a government, we need to go back to the drawing board and fight this stigma within our communities,” she said.
“We have started to review our laws and systems… to come up with adequate solutions that will help unite us and ensure that we work together with our communities to prevent such incidents in future. Let Karabo be the answer to the problems that face us today as a nation.”
Dlamini said Mokoena’s death should serve as a lesson to us all. She added that the first time she saw her picture, she saw a beautiful and peaceful young woman. “Once someone undermines you and uses derogatory words, you must immediately leave him,” said Dlamini.
“You must leave because your life is in your hands.”
Read: Karabo was a gentle soul
The minister further urged communities to speak out against women and children abuse.
“We need to break the silence because our lives are not statistics. The time has come to say, ‘men this must come to an end’.”
Shabangu said there was no amount of comfort which would make up for the loss of life, and said the burden was very heavy for every family that goes through this kind of bereavement.
Mokoena’s boyfriend was arrested for her murder on 10 May.
She was laid to rest at West Park Cemetery.
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