Nhlanahla Khoza, the KwaZulu-Natal Social Development MEC has urged the police to make a swift arrest of those behind the brutal rape and murder of a 53-year-old woman from Inanda Durban.
The department said that it was alleged that Dumazihlebi Doris Sithole, 53, was last seen when she went out for drinks with friends, and she never made it back home in Dube Village’s ward 55 in eThekwini Municipality.
“Her partner only heard from his neighbours that Sithole was trending on social media after she was brutally raped, killed and burned by unknown people in Bhambayi’s Number Five Area,” the department said.
“The matter was only reported to the Department of Social Development Inanda Service Office on Tuesday,” said the department.
MEC Khoza said the brutal murder of Sithole was unacceptable. She said local people should not sleep peacefully knowing that women in the area are not safe.
“We have been taken aback by this incident. It is shocking that we live with heartless people. They first attack an innocent woman, rape her, killed her and burn her body. This is so inhumane how can people attack a woman, after killing her and they take her dignity even in death,” she said.
Khoza deemed the murder of Sithole as cruel and unusual. She said the criminals who killed Sithole inflicted more pain on the family and denied them the opportunity to bury her body intact.
“It is imperative that our society should change its tune by playing an active role in fighting gender-based violence in their areas. We are aware that there is a person somewhere who knows the criminals who killed Sithole, and we want to urge them not to keep quiet but expose all those involved.”
Khoza said the community would only be able to win the fight against gender-based violence if the alleged criminals are isolated and exposed.
Source: The Witness, IOL, News24, image from IOL: SAPS
