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ActionSA has condemned the brutal killing of Nompumelelo Gumede and Antoinette Hill, who died after being set alight in a petrol-fuelled attack allegedly carried out by Nompumelelo’s former partner, Mpumelelo Hill.
The incident occurred in July, when the accused reportedly doused Nompumelelo with petrol and set her alight. Antoinette, his sister, was severely injured while trying to save her. Both women died in hospital after several days of treatment.
ActionSA welcomed the decision by the court to deny bail but urged the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to upgrade the charges from attempted murder to murder. The party called for justice that reflects the full scale of the violence committed.
“This is not only a domestic violence matter, it is a brutal, gendered killing,” the party said in a statement. “It is part of a wider crisis of violence against women in our country and must be addressed with full legal force.”
ActionSA is demanding a quick prosecution with the harshest possible sentence, stronger local protections for women at risk of intimate partner violence, continued emotional support for the victims’ families and affected communities
The party stressed that the deaths of Nompumelelo and Antoinette must not be forgotten or reduced to statistics. Their story is a painful reminder of the dangers women face in their own homes.
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