Men must be at the forefront of fighting gender-based violence for this war to be won. So says Social Development Minister, Lindiwe Zulu.
She was speaking in Moruleng village in the North West, after visiting the family of Tshepang Pitse, whose family believes has been murdered and that the dismembered body parts found in a refrigerator in Soweto are hers. Tshepang was allegedly killed by her cousin, who was also her live-in partner. Police are yet to confirm that DNA results proved that the body parts belong to Tshepang.
Zulu said there’s a need to work closely with communities in order to stop the killing of women and children.
“It is very sad to visit a family who lost a child. Young women are being brutalised by men and this cuts deep as every time we start the 16 Days of Activisim we start it with pain. The most painful thing is to be told of how pieces were discovered in a refrigerator, and discovered by another woman. I’m not a psychologist, but I’m asking myself as to how possible it is for someone to murder a woman and put her body into the refrigerator and bring another woman in the same house,” said Zulu.
Meanwhile MEC for Social Development in the North West, Boitumelo Moiloa, who was accompanying the Minister, said government is going to embark on a dialogue to educate women about their rights.
Tshepang Pitse’s family representative, Edward Pitse, said the family is still shocked by her murder. He said Tshepang and her alleged murderer, Flavio Hlabangawane, were related hence they are still shocked as to how he could have murdered her.
Pitse said his younger brother called him on Tuesday telling him about the brutal murder of his child.
The family says is is still waiting for police to complete the investigation before burying Tshepang.
“We are still waiting for her body from the police, we will bury her as soon as we receive her body,” Pitse said.
