Minister for Women, Children and People with Disabilities, Ms Lulu Xingwana welcomes the arrest of suspects in relation to the murder of three school girls at Makgwareng section in Nobody village outside Polokwane.
The three learners from Ramathope Secondary School – Kedibone Ledwaba (16), Refilwe Mampshika (15) and her cousin Seipati – were found dead after they went missing from 2 May.
The breakthrough in the case was announced by Limpopo Police Commissioner at the joint funeral of the girls attended by Minister Xingwana at the village today.
“We appreciate intensive effort put by the police to ensure that these brutal murderers are put behind bars before these girls are buried. This is a demonstration of government’s commitment to deal with crimes against women and children.
“We urge the court not to grant these people bail. Most often, rape and murder suspects go out and rape and murder more children if they are granted bail,” Minister Xingwana told hundreds of mourners at the funeral.
She said South Africa’s long history of violence has compromised the right of the children to grow up in a safe and secure environment leading to high occurrence of criminal violence, with severe consequences for children.
“As government, we say, this has to stop, and it has to stop now. We have reached a point where we need to take extra measures to stop violence against women and children. We need to mobilise all sectors of our society to play a role in addressing gender based violence, in a similar manner that we responded to HIV and AIDS,” said Minister Xingwana.
She urged the community to work together with the police to eradicate crime in the area. “Let us walk with our eyes and ears opened. Any child should be looked after by all members of the community. Your child is my child, and my child is your child. Let us go back to our beautiful culture - that of adopting any child as your own,” said Minister Xingwana.
Enquiries:
Sibani Mngadi
Cell: 082 772 0161
