A large crowd of ANC members picketed in front of the Caledon Magistrates’ Court last week to demand “Justice for Dimpho Skelenge”, the woman who was allegedly stabbed to death by her boyfriend.
Skelenge, who hails from Ashton, moved to Caledon recently to start a job as a clerk at Caledon Magistrates’ Court on 1 August. A neighbour discovered her lifeless body at approximately 05:50 on Wednesday 7 September in Tortelduif Street, Caledon.
Sergeant Tembi Gweyi, spokesperson for the Caledon police, said when police officials arrived at the scene they found the victim lying behind the door.
“During medical examinations it was found she had sustained five stab wounds to the left side of her chest and one in the neck,” he said. “She was certified dead on the scene.”
Skelenge’s ex-boyfriend Wiseman Ndara (34) was arrested hours later at his place of work in Bonnievale.
He first appeared in court on a charge of murder on Friday 9 September. He was due to apply for bail on Friday 16 September, but the application was postponed.
Thanduxolo Hoza of the ANC said local party members decided on the picket to demand that Ndara’s bail application be denied, for Dimpho’s death had not only affected her family but also the community.
“This was not the first crime of this nature in our community,” he said. “Recently we also had an incident where a man first shot and killed his wife and then himself. Incidents of gender-based violence and domestic violence are on the increase, and we are of the opinion that if the police do the necessary interventions, these crimes could have been prevented.
“In the case of the man who allegedly shot his wife before turning the gun on himself, we believe it could have been prevented if the police had arrested him or even just confiscated his firearm because the woman reported the matter to police.”
In a separate incident, approximately 300 people marched to Caledon Magistrates’ Court last Thursday (15 September) to demand that two men accused of killing a suspected thief be released on bail.
The residents of Riemvasmaak informal settlement in Caledon took to the streets and headed to the court, where Isaac Thabang and Khavana Samililo (25 and 32 years old respectively) appeared on a charge of murder.
The two are accused of murdering Franscious Visagie in an incident of mob justice.
Sergeant Gweyi reported that police were called to the scene in Riemvasmaak at approximately 22:10.
“The community allegedly accused the victim of breaking in; and assaulted him,” he said. “The victim sustained stab wounds and was taken by private car to hospital where he died.
“The community demanded that Thabang and Samililo be released on bail. Unfortunately they did not get bail and were sent back to prison. The case was postponed to 11 November.”
