Today, the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) has learned of the sentencing of Lungile Nxelelwa at Palm Ridge Magistrates Court for the brutal murder of his girlfriend Keneilwe Pule of Sebokeng. The Commission welcomes the 2 life sentences (to run concurrently) handed down to Nxelelwa for the rape and murder. The sentencing of Nxelelwa brought to an end one of the most traumatic cases of gender-based violence and femicide (GBV&F) ever witnessed and heard of in South Africa.
This is not by anyway downplaying the seriousness of any other GBV&F cases. The brutality in which Keneilwe Pule died and her body set alight also brought the Department of Safety and Security to the fore offering Pyscho-Social support to the family.
The Commission believes Nxelelwa’s sentencing continues the same trajectory that the Commission for Gender Equality is advocating to see consistency and harsher punishment for the perpetrators of GBV&F as this scourge. This scourge has become a pandemic. In order for GBV&F to be nipped in the bud sentences like this will go a long way in ensuring that survivors of GBV and intimate partner violence are assured they will receive justice should they report their cases, equally the perpetrators of GBV & F will be deterred in their wicked ways.
“The Commission is particularly pleased that the judgement resonates with what His Excellency President Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa called for during the launch of the Private Sector Gender-based Violence and Femicide Fund that the country through this fund requires a collective effort to create a society free from GBV&F”, said the Chairperson of the Commission for Gender Equality Ms Tamara Mathebula
The Gender Commission believes this sentence will send a strong and unequivocal message that the judicial system is taking the fight against gender-based violence seriously. The Gender Commission also extends its appreciation to the police and investigators of this case without whom we would not be talking about sentencing of Nxelelwa.
The CGE once again implores on South Africans to join hands as part of the 365 Days of No Violence Against Women to continue raising awareness and advocating against the scourge of gender-based violence and femicide. The Gender Commission through community outreach and public information activities, continues to engage both boys and men about their role and responsibilities in ending gender-based violence and femicide. We hope through these campaigns boys and men will unlearn harmful behaviours and become citizens who respect human rights and understand that women’s rights are also human rights.
Enquiries:
Javu Baloyi
Cell: 083 579 3306
