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We are disheartened to report that a young man in Northern KwaZulu-Natal and a group of men in Durban North brutally murdered and raped three senior citizens.
These violent attacks on the elderly further reflect the miserable treatment our silver generation endures. The country, already a disgrace due to its leading global status in rape cases, now notes three more people savagely killed.
In light of these cases, Nonhlanhla Khoza, MEC for Social Development (DSD) in KwaZulu-Natal, stated that she was highly disturbed and disheartened by the incidents.
Looking at the cases, a 38-year-old man from Sonweni Village, Umhlabuyalingana, Northern KwaZulu-Natal, savagely murdered two elderly (sexagenarians).
According to MEC Khoza, on Monday, 10 January 2022, the man hacked his mother to death with a bush knife.
Following the murder of his mother, the man proceeded to a nearby homestead and hacked his aunt to death. The aunt allegedly attempted to intervene after hearing cries and pleas for assistance.
According to a statement issued by the KZN DSD, the information leading up to the brutal attacks is still sketchy. However, the perpetrator is believed to have had an altercation with his mother prior to murdering her and his aunt.
“We are shocked by the extent of violence directed to vulnerable people. Young people are supposed to be the ones who protect the elderly. However, it is disgusting that pain is inflicted by the same young people who are supposed to protect our senior citizens,” declared MEC Khoza.
She praised the law enforcement agencies for their prompt response in ensuring that the perpetrator was apprehended.
MEC Khoza has sent a team of social workers to visit the victims’ families to provide psychosocial support. She also expressed her heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and promised that the group of social workers would continue to support the family. This, even after the funerals, to ensure they received support during this difficult time.
Focussing on the second incident, MEC Khoza also condemned the gang rape of a senior citizen in Maoti, Inanda, north of Durban.
According to the KZN DSD, the senior citizen died at a police station on Wednesday, 5 January 2022, after enduring an unexplainable trauma. The senior citizen was there to report that she had been repeatedly gang-raped.
While it is unclear how long the timeframe is, the KZN DSD states the deceased’s neighbours were aware that the old woman had been turned into a sex slave by the heartless youth. Yet, they chose to do nothing and did not report it to the SAPS.
MEC Khoza pleaded with the local community to work with police to apprehend the group of youngsters. Additionally, she expressed her displeasure that the community could not assist the victim in ensuring that the perpetrators were brought to justice. “It is disheartening that we have youth who rape in our communities, and they are known, but we fail to report them to the police. We want to see police conducting an investigation into the death of this senior citizen and ensure that the perpetrators get arrested.”
MEC Khoza stated that law enforcement agencies must also investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of the senior citizen at the police station.
“We call on police to leave no stone unturned in their investigation and ensure the conviction of the guilty party. Cases of violence against women and children are far too many and need us as the society to take full responsibility to fight them.”
MEC Khoza
What are your thoughts on the above? What do you attribute such behaviour to?
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