It has been nearly three months since 21-year-old Sisipho Mayile’s body was found near Camphill in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley.
Two suspects were taken in for questioning but were released due to insufficient evidence to link them to her murder. Her killer or killers are still free. Fed-up with this state of affairs, members of the community, Overstrand Mayor Annelie Rabie, councillors and Masizole Mnqasela, speaker of the Western Cape Parliament and the DA Overstrand Constituency head, protested in front of the Hermanus Magistrates’ Court last week to demand answers.
Sisipho, who completed Grade 12 at Qhayiya Secondary School last year, was last seen on Sunday 16 January near the Zwelihle Taxi Rank and was reported missing a short while later. A worker cutting grass discovered her decomposed body in bushes in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley on Friday 21 January.
During a previous march held in February, one of the demands contained in the memorandum was for the provincial commissioner to be present at the next march. On Monday, Mnqasela handed over a memorandum to Provincial Police Commissioner Major General Thembisile Patekile.
Mnqasela said: “When will Sisipho rest? She will never be able to rest if the killers are not found and brought to book. We are tired, ons is gatvol. This is the third time we have marched. Our plea is for the police to help us find Sisipho’s killers, arrest them and bring them before court.
“We won’t allow the community to be governed by criminals and lawlessness. Who must die next before the police do their job and ensure that the community is safe? We demand action from the police and we demand justice.”
Mnqasela informed the commissioner that the community has requested that detectives from the provincial head office be involved in the investigation as they do not trust some members of the local police. The community also demanded the commissioner’s number so that information about the case could be directly relayed to him.
Patekile gave the assurance that the police are “working around the clock” to gather evidence in order to bring the killers to book. He also called on the community to join forces with the police to combat crime and for men to take a stand against Gender-Based Violence.
“Men are supposed to be the protectors of women and children. Maybe we as older men have failed to show the younger men the right way, to protect our women and children. I am making myself available for a talk with the men about GBV.”
Patekile also called on any possible eyewitnesses to assist the police with information and for volunteers to make themselves available to provide coun-selling and support to victims of GBV.
Mnaqsela said the community would continue to march to the police each month until suspects have been arrested and justice has been served.
“We will rise and return until such time when the perpetrators appear,” Overstrand Mayor Dr Annelie Rabie reiterated.