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Concerned community members of Lusikisiki came out in numbers all dressed in black and with head scarfs as a sign of mourning the deaths of all women who have died at the hands of violent men.
This march was one of the many marches against Gender Based Violence and Femicide that have been held in Lusikisiki but unlike many other marches this had the most attendees.
Local leaders, taxi drivers, young and old men and women all marched in solidarity with the families of the victims of GBVF. The hundreds of emotional demonstrators come after a voice recording of an interview of Lusikisiki police station commander by a Nkonjane FM journalist where the station commander was head answering in a very unpleasant and insensitive manner.
The voice recording that is circulating on social media put fuel in a fire that was already sparked by the dissatisfactions against Lusikisiki justice system and the police.
The young organizers of the peaceful demonstration said they just could not keep quiet about all the violence and killings in Lusikisiki.
“There was a need for the march to be organized, we have tried several times without success but this one became a success. The reason for the march is to put an end to GBV because we are against it. We tried again after the recent death of Zimasa Mkwedini to see if there won’t be success in trying to get the killer arrested. We encourage people to attend these marches in numbers, so we fight this GBV together.” Said Yandisa Jaka.
The cry amongst the protestors were cries about the lack of interest in the police to investigate cases and ignorance of cases reported. Mr Sigcau from Ngobozana whose wife was gunned down by men in her home says he was told by a family member that someone wants him dead, Mr Sigcawu says he immediately reported that to the police and nothing was done by the police and that week his wife was killed. “On the 4th of September last year criminals broke a window in my house when my wife opened the door she was shot in the head, the bullet went through her head and the second shot was on her shoulder my wife died and a case was opened but until now I do not know what happened to that case. I came with all the information but until now there has been no arrests. There are rumors that the bullets were meant for me and not my wife.” Said the emotional Mr. Sigcawu.
@pondoland.times Council of churches, families and demontrators at the site where Zimasa Mkwedini decapitated body was found. #ZimasaMkwedini #zimasa #gbv #pondolandtimes #news #lusikisiki
General Cetyana promised to attend to the cries of the community members of Lusikisiki. He said “We have received a list of complaints from members of this area, what we are going to do is package them and answer to them. The strategy is to call a big imbizo where we address the community because it is clear the community is concerned about GBV. One other issue is the VN that is circulating that VN is managed very properly within the internal processes of the South African Police Services, it is clear the VN was unpalatable the comments were very unpalatable said general Cetyana of SAPS.
Petrus Majola who dedicated his life to fighting for vulnerable groups was also at the march standing in solidarity with the victims and families of victims of GBVF. He spoke to Pondoland Times about the circulating voice recording of Lusikisiki police station commander and said. “it is very disturbing whether he knew he was talking to the media or he was not aware. I do not even want to say maybe he was not aware of who he was talking to but the words he uttered were very unprofessional and it really disturbed us. That voice recording shows that they have put in management someone who is not fit for being in management. Especially for a station as big as Lusikisiki it is disappointing to hear that Kufa is not even aware that Lusikisiki is a crime hotspot especially crimes against women and children.” Said Petrus Majola.
The demonstration ended at the scene where Zimasa Mkwedini’s decapitated body was found. At the scene there was still blood where her lifeless body lied. Friends, family and demonstrators could not hide their tears as they stood around Zimasa’s blood.
General Cetyana and his team of police as well as Petruse Majola all went to the home of Zimasa Mkwedini to comfort the family and offer financial assistance with arrangements of the funeral of their daughter who was their breadwinner.
