Durban — It will be a bleak Christmas for a northern KwaZulu-Natal family who still wait for the arrest of the man alleged to have shot and killed the mother of his three children and her sister in front of his 10-year-old son.
In July, Nkosinathi Mthokozisi Malevu is alleged to have gone to the home of the mother of his three children, Velile Snethemba Lamula, where he shot her and her sister, Phindile Lamula, in full view of his 10-year-old child who is their first-born.
Police have a warrant of arrest out for Malevu.
Spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Nqobile Gwala said that the suspect was wanted for two counts of murder.
An older sibling of the two slain sisters, who preferred not to be named, said that this was a difficult time for the family as they all spent Christmas together and this one would be the first without Velile and Phindile.
“It’s difficult and scary because we don’t know if he could come back for more of us.”
In September, she had said that the family had fled the homestead in Nkandla fearing for their lives after death threats that were received before the shooting as well as threatening messages after the sisters were killed.
On Sunday, the sibling said that the family had moved back to their home.
“They decided to go back, refusing to be ruled by fear.
“While we (will) all be home for Christmas our sisters won’t.”
Recently, the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and the Children Campaign was launched by KwaZulu-Natal Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube in uMlazi where she said that gender-based violence (GBV) was a horrendous violation of people’s rights.
From April to June this year, 855 women and 243 children were killed in South Africa.
There were more than 1 100 GBV cases of women victims and 1 670 cases involving children.
“Children are also being murdered at institutions of learning which includes day-care facilities, primary and high schools, and tertiary institutions. When it comes to murder, firearms are three times more likely to be the weapon of choice in all the reported murders. It is clear that firearms continue to be a menace to society, especially those that are illegal. The firearms play a major role in the murders and attempted murders, particularly those involving women and children,” said Dube-Ncube.
She said as part of the KZN Anti-GBVF Plan, the government called for dialogues on moral regeneration and social cohesion.
“When a woman is killed or dies, so does the family. Women are central to the life of any society. We all have a duty to stretch every muscle in our body to eliminate the abuse of women and children. One of the challenges faced by women is … protection orders which are often violated by the perpetrator.”
Daily News