North West MEC for Human Settlements, Safety and Liaison, Desbo Mohono has expressed anger and condemned suspected domestic violence and arson that has claimed the life of a mother of two, Sarah Ponyane in Ikageng near Potchefstroom in the early hours of Sunday morning.
It is alleged that Ponyane aged 38 had around 10h00 pm on Saturday night quarrelled with her boyfriend about a domestic violence and assault case she had opened against him which was due to be heared in the Potchefstroom Magistrates Court on Monday. As a result of the alleged quarrel, her daughters aged 14 and 10 had went over to sleep over at her sister’s place next door.
Her sister and children were woken by their Ikageng Extension 11 neighbours around 02h00am and joined them in desperate attempts to extinguish the blaze using hosepipes. Although the City of Tlokwe Fire and Emergency Services responded timeously to the emergency, it was a little too late to save the woman’s life.
MEC Mohono who was accompanied by Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Zukiswa Mbombo, Deputy Provincial Commissioner William Mpembe and other senior police officers during her visit to Poyane’s home called on the police to do everything in their power to arrest the perpetrator/s responsible for the arson and callous murder and not to leave any stone unturned in their investigations. Police are looking for the boyfriend for him to assist them in their investigations.
In reiterating the “Don’t look away-Act Against Abuse” 16 Days of Activism on no violence against women and children campaign message, MEC Mohono called on communities to intensify the fight against the scourge of women and children abuse by reporting suspected incidents of abuse. She called on women not to stay in abusive relations as they end up in untold tragedies.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Tel: 018 381 9171
Fax: 018 381 9123
Cell: 083 629 1987
E-mail: Lkgwele@nwpg.gov.za
