KwaNokuthula: The Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, has welcomed the sentencing of two men convicted in the murder of Nosipho ‘Nomdundu’ Mafani of KwaNokuthula, Western Cape.

According to South African Government News Agency, the two men, Mboneli Msila and Monde Tshemese, were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by the High Court of South Africa: Western Cape Division sitting in Knysna. They were found guilty of conspiring to murder Mafani, a 23-year-old woman with a mental disability. Msila, who was the adoptive father of Mafani, orchestrated the murder to claim funeral policy payouts amounting to R600,000. He hired three men, Mbulelo Jack, Monde Tshemese, and Lungisile Lucas, to execute the plan.

Chikunga stated that Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) remains a national crisis in South Africa, with high rates of violence against women, girls, and vulnerable groups, including women with disabilities. ‘Gender-Based Violence and Femicide is a deeply rooted societal issue. Women with disabilities, in particular, are often subjected to extreme forms of sexual and physical violence. Despite being one of the most vulnerable groups, their experiences continue to be overlooked and under-addressed in society,’ Chikunga said.

The Minister emphasized Pillar 3 of the National Strategic Plan (NSP) on GBVF, which focuses on Justice, Safety, and Protection, addressing systemic shortcomings in the legal system and enhancing the response to GBVF cases. It aims to ensure that survivors have access to justice and are afforded safety and protection through improvements to the legal framework and its implementation.

Chikunga warned that GBVF is not a private matter but a serious public crime, emphasizing that it is an ongoing act of violation of human rights, particularly against persons with disabilities. ‘It deprives women and girls of their fundamental human rights, including the right to live free from violence, discrimination, and violation of bodily integrity. Failure to take meaningful action to prevent, prosecute, and punish such acts constitutes a violation of human rights,’ she stated.

The Minister urged that all incidents of abuse must be reported to the nearest SAPS station or Thuthuzela Care Centre for support. The government has also established the Gender-Based Violence Command Centre (GBVCC) to provide 24-hour support to victims of abuse and violence. ‘We share a strong reminder that our government will continue to stand firm to protect and defend human rights as enshrined by the constitution,’ Chikunga concluded.