The community of Ntiba-neni village in in Ngcobo is reeling from the brutal murder of two young people one week ago, an event that has left residents distraught and voicing severe disappointment with the police investigation.
The tragedy unfolded in the early hours of last Sunday when a 16-year-old girl was raped and brutally murdered while returning home from a ceremony. In a heroic attempt to save her a 19-year-old tried to intervened and was beaten to death by the alleged perpetrator.
The households remains in agony after her lifeless body was discovered by residents behind her family home. The killings have sent shockwaves of fear throughout the area.
“This tragedy has really hurt us. It has not only hurt the parents but the entire community and the neighboring villages because no one feels safe,” a community member said. “Now after sunset, everyone gets scared and they want to lock themselves in their homes. Even when you lock yourself in your home, you lose hope because you don’t know where the attacker will come from.”
The heroic boy is being remembered as a hero who gave his life trying to save the girl. His family has launched a scathing attack on the South African Police Service (SAPS) for their handling of the investigation.
“We are complaining against the police for not looking into the murder of our child,” a family representative stated. “Even when they interrogated the suspects, we did not hear anything. They took two people whom they said are suspects, but they did not say anything to us after that.”
The family’s frustration is compounded by what they describe as a lack of communication and urgency from the authorities. “On Monday, we went to the police and when we asked for the policeman who is dealing with this case, he gave us a cell phone number that is not policing,” the representative added.
Local leadership has echoed these concerns. The Ward Councillor revealed a broader pattern of violent crime in the area, stating that since taking office, more than 40 people have been shot and killed.
“This ward has so many cases of murder where a number of people have been shot. I told the government about this. Even the police know about this,” the Councillor said. “Even yesterday, I was at the police station asking why is the perpetrator not arrested? Because we usually say communities must work with the police. The residents here work with the police and gave them information but still they didn’t take any action.”
Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane visited the grieving families, acknowledging the perennial nature of such heinous crimes in the region.
“These sins of heinous crimes that have been committed seems to be something that is perennial here and we believe it’s something that can be arrested,” Premier Mabuyane said. “I think we need to nip this problem in the bud. We need to mobilize community. We need ongoing awareness. It’s very unfortunate that we have lost a young life like this one.”
In a statement, police confirmed that an investigation is underway. They provided a preliminary account, stating that three people were returning from a tavern when they were attacked on their way home.
“Circumstances surrounding the incident form part of the investigation. No arrest has been made. However, investigation is underway,” the police spokesperson said. Authorities are appealing to anyone with information to contact the detective branch in Ngcobo.
The incident has cast a pall over the community, with locals stating that rape and murder are prevalent in the area and are demanding better policing. The case has drawn parallels to a 2017 incident where a serial rapist was active in a nearby village before being convicted and given a hefty sentence.
