Thokozile Mnguni
The court appearance of the accused in the murder of 84-year-old Maneli Junior Mongoya from Ramotse in Hammanskraal, outside Pretoria, has reopened deep emotional wounds for the family.
Mongoya was alone at her home when the incident occurred last Tuesday.
The family says the pain is compounded by the fact that all four suspects are known to the family, with one having assisted during funeral arrangements for the deceased’s son in April.
Speaking to The News Desk, granddaughter Merriam Molomo said the family has endured consecutive losses.
“We just lost my father, and a month later we lost his mother,” said Molomo. “We are sad, and all we can wish for is to see the perpetrators getting harsher sentences.”
“We don’t even want them to get bail because we wish not to see them walking freely. This is a really difficult time for us as a family, and all we want is justice even though Gogo is gone,” she added.
A sister of the deceased, Florah Gwezela, described the killing as something that will never be forgotten.
“My sister’s death is something that will not be erased. At night, I don’t sleep, I think about the manner in which she was violently killed and wish those thugs could also die,” she said.
Another relative, Seabela Mashaba, said he was the first to arrive at the scene.
“She was facing downwards and bleeding. I still ask myself what led to those boys doing what they did to my aunt,” he said.
ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba, reacting after attending the funeral, expressed anger and frustration over her killing.
“I’m deeply frustrated and angered by the manner in which my aunt was murdered. I am not looking for sympathy from anyone but asking our government if this is what democracy means to us,” Mashaba said.
Community representative Naomi Mawela said the case must be treated with urgency as gender based violence cases continue to rise.
“We are saying no bail to all of them. People can’t just kill and be seen walking freely in our society. We are tired, and we want justice,” she said.
Greater Hammanskraal constituency chairperson and ActionSA councillor Thabang Sebotsane said the community will continue attending court proceedings and opposing bail.
“We want to send a message to the justice system because the family must receive justice. The harshest sentence must be handed down against these murderers as we do not need such people in our communities,” he said.
Simon Legodi (29), Thabo Mabasa (31), Tshiamo Selokela (31) and Mishack Msiza (37) face charges of murder and robbery with intent to steal. The four appeared at Moretele Magistrate’s Court today.
The matter was postponed to 23 July for verification of addresses.