Thokozile Mnguni
The community of Ramotse in Hammanskraal, outside Pretoria, is in shock following the brutal killing of 84-year-old Maneli Junior Mongoya in a violent attack last week.
Mogoya, who is related to ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba, was alone at her home when the incident occurred last Tuesday.
Mashaba says a neighbour, an elderly man, was also killed in a separate but similar attack in the same area.
The ActionSA leader took to social media expressing anger and frustration over the killings.
“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,” said an emotional Mashaba.
He questioned delays in arrests, saying community members had already identified suspects.
“How many people should be murdered before we stand up and ask our government for protection?” he asked.
In a video circulating on social media, one of the suspects appears to confess to the crime. The man describes how they entered the home, demanded money, and attacked the victim after she failed to comply.
ActionSA councillor Thabang Sebotsane described the victim as a mother, grandmother, and respected community member.
He called for swift justice and urged the court to deny bail to those arrested.
“We call for the justice system to treat this matter with urgency and also call for the court to deny the perpetrators any bail until they are sentenced,” he said.
He said the community must stand together against gender-based violence and violent crime.
The suspects are expected to appear at the Moretele Magistrates Court tomorrow.
The incident is not the first tragedy involving Mashaba. In 2022, his wife’s aunt was raped and murdered by two men in North West province.