Responding to a tragedy involving a man who allegedly burnt a woman and her daughters aged 14 and 19 years in their home in the middle of the night last week Wednesday in the City of Tshwane, the Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Gwendoline Ramokgopa, called on the community to reflect on what else needed to be done to stop this carnage of gender based violence.
Dr Ramokgopa today led a delegation that visited relatives of the deceased Ralulimi family at Atteridgeville informal settlement. The delegation comprised of the MMC for Safety in the City of Tshwane, the local Councillors and the Parliamentary Constituency Office.
According to the neighbours, the man had stopped visiting the family for a while and it is understood that the 33 year old woman had obtained a restraining order against him. He allegedly on Thursday locked the woman and her two children inside the shack and set it on fire. The woman and her two daughters who were grade 12 and eight learners respectively burnt to death. It appears that he later committed suicide in Soshanguve where is said to have been hiding since the incident.
The burial of the woman and her two daughters is scheduled for Saturday, 10 September 2011, at Tshisaula Village, Vhembe District in Limpopo.
Whilst at the scene of the incident, Dr Ramokgopa told the members of the community, especially women, to break the silence about reporting their abusive partners and pledge solidarity with one another in order to reduce the incidences of women and children abuse.
“Never be scared to inform police authorities about men who abuse you and your children. If you don’t, these are possible consequences that we will continue to experience as a society. This is a very unfortunate and unacceptable incident in our society, especially as we just emerged from the Women’s Month and at a time when our government is doing its best to curb domestic violence through family education and enforcement of laws meant to curb domestic violence”, said Dr Ramokgopa.
The delegation also visited a home where a young woman (18) was raped and murdered at the house backroom on 28 August 2011. The woman was a student at a local college doing studies in financial management. She was buried this past Saturday, (3 September 2011), also in Limpopo.
Today’s intervention was part of Dr Ramokgopa’s African National Congress (ANC) Atteridgeville Constituency Office Program. This month, the constituency office has prioritised education, mainly ensuring that grade 12 learners are well prepared for tertiary education and also that school learners are in class, on time, and learning for at least seven hours during teaching times.
The Parliamentary Constituency Office (PCO) will work into strengthening programs aimed at reducing the level of violence in schools and in the community. Children and Youth have a right to learn and acquire necessary skills they need in a safe and secure society. The PCO sends condolences to the families of the deceased.
Enquiries:
Vukani Mnyandu
Tel: 012 395 8475
Cell: 083 923 0261
