The city is reeling in shock following the gang rape of a 34-year-old woman who was also doused with paraffin and set alight in Lethabo Park, Roodepan, on the weekend.
THE CITY is reeling in shock following the gang rape of a 34-year-old woman who was also doused with paraffin and set alight in Lethabo Park, Roodepan, on the weekend.
The woman died in hospital on October 8 as a result of her injuries.
Shaine Griqua, from the Shaine Griqua Foundation, believed that it was a hate crime.
“This was the most cruel and inhumane way to die. The deceased was an LGBTIQA+ activist and was openly living as a member of the LGBTIQA+ community. She died a brutal death where she was burnt on her private parts, her neck and thighs,” said Griqua on Monday.
“She was apparently on her way home, where she is employed at 3 SAI, when she was attacked near the railway line. The area is covered in bushes and trees and it is isolated and dark as there are no flood lights.”
Griqua stated that the woman was apparently dragged into a so-called ghost shack where she was raped and set allight.
“A child living in the area heard the deceased screaming for help. The child was under the impression that it was a man, but upon closer inspection saw that it was a woman. The deceased informed her that she had been raped by three men and was burnt with paraffin. She tried to put out the flames herself. The suspects fled the scene.”
Griqua added that the deceased was loved by the LGBTIQA+ community.
“Trans men often face discrimination and we would like to provide counselling and request government for assistance to set up a shelter for those who are suffering in silence because they are not free to openly talk about what they are going through.”
Griqua indicated that they would hold a candlelight service for the family this week.
“We pray that the suspect’s consciences will convince them to hand themselves over to the police.”
The Roodepan sector A1 neighbourhood watch will also hand over a memorandum at the Roodepan police station this week, calling for the perpetrators to be arrested and to also highlight the lack of resources and response vehicles.
DA chairperson on Transport, Safety and Liaison Ofentse Mokae said the party was angered and saddened by the barbaric murder of the 34-year-old city resident.
“She was set alight and left for dead in Lethabo Park, Roodepan, over the weekend, later succumbing to her extensive injuries in hospital. She has become yet another statistic in this country, where 67 people are murdered and 153 people are raped each day,” said Mokae.
“The absolute brutality of this crime is shocking beyond belief and points to an increasingly disturbing trend in the levels of aggression afflicted in cases of gender-based violence (GBV) in the Northern Cape and the country. This murder is on another level of wickedness.”
Mokae highlighted the unprecedented levels of crime along with a critical shortage of resources within the SAPS including a lack of vehicles.
“This vicious crime must serve as an urgent warning to authorities that lawlessness and criminals are out of control, as repeatedly indicated in the provincial crime statistics.”
Mokae added that recent crime statistics showd that the Province experienced the highest increase in murder, attempted murder and rape cases in the country.
“The last quarterly crime statistics indicated that murder in the Northern Cape increased with 20.3 percent and attempted murder with 116 percent – the highest increase in the country. The Province has the third highest incidence of rape in the country where crimes of this nature increased by 9.4 percent.
“Galeshewe police station recorded the highest number of attempted murder cases in the Northern Cape.”
Mokae called on the police to apprehend the suspects and to ensure that they were brought to justice.
