Durban - The rape and murder of a 15-year-old girl, allegedly by a known suspect in Nquthu Municipality in northern KwaZulu-Natal, has sparked outrage and threats of violence in the community.
KZN Social Development MEC Nonhlanhla Khoza said it was alleged that Grade 9 pupil Lethokuhle Ntombela had been attacked by a local in Mgxangala village during the last weekend of September.
Khoza said Lethokuhle was sleeping over at her aunt’s house. The aunt left the home around 3am to meet her boyfriend, and when she returned she found that the teen had been raped and killed.
It is alleged the suspect, who is known to the family, suffocated the teenager while raping her, and that she died at the scene, said the MEC.
The news of the incident sparked outrage in the community.
“Traditional leadership had to convene a series of urgent meetings to calm the situation after a message spread that the Kabane community wanted to attack,” said Khoza.
Khoza said incidents of this nature required members of the community to work together and isolate criminals.
“The violence directed at women and children needs a joint effort to fight it. We also need to see police working round the clock with the help of community members to ensure that cases of gender-based violence are eradicated. Equally, members of the community must not engage in criminal activities to fight crime,” she said.
Khoza said police would spare no effort in apprehending all those involved in cases involving gender-based violence.
“All criminals and those who are behind violent attacks on women, or involved in any form of gender-based violence, should not be allowed to roam in our streets, but should be sent to prison.”
Khoza said she has dispatched a team of social workers to the area to provide psycho-social support to the family, the teen’s schoolmates, and the community affected by the horrific incident.
Provincial police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nqobile Gwala said the 21-year-old suspect was arrested and charged with murder.
Gwala said the suspect appeared before the Nquthu Magistrates Court on 1 November 1, 2022. The matter was remanded to November 9, 2022.
“A case of murder is investigated by Nquthu SAPS. It is alleged that on 30 October 2022 at 04:30, the body of a 15-year-old woman was found at Mngxangala area in Nquthu with neck and leg injuries,”she said.