It has been four weeks since the body of Katlego Sephuru, 20, was discovered in a brutal state in her home town in Allemansdrift “C”, Mpumalanga. Her throat slit, face and private parts burnt, chest wounded and left for dead. She was dumped on the side of the road, allegedly raped before her body and private parts were mutilated. One would expect such vicious cases to be acted upon as a matter of urgency, with experienced and stalwart investigating officers appointed to ensure justice and bring culprits to book. But in the unfortunate case of Sephuru, her murderers are still walking free. During his 2013 State of the Nation address, President Jacob Zuma highlighted the need for Law enforcement urgencies to treat these cases “with the utmost urgency and importance.” The national outrage triggered by the recent brutal rapes and murders forced Zuma to sooth the anger and emotion in the country by displaying the appropriate sensitivity and urgency to assist victims and ensure the support of the Justice system to deal with perpetrators. But are these just words against rape? We need firm leadership required to fight this epidemic. A week after Sephuru was buried, Vaalbank police spokesperson Amatie Ramasobane, who initially commented on Sephuru’s murder case, did not even know the results of the post mortem even though they were available. The ward 19 councillor where Sephuru was found did not know anything about the crime, even though it happened in her area. When I finally got hold of the councillor she did not seem particularly concerned about the incident. This is the same person whose mandate and occupation it is to focus on communities which she serves, paying critical attention and swiftly responding to matters of ‘urgency’.
It’s painful enough already that the murderers of my sister are still walking free
Law enforcement authorities and community leadership seems to be devoid of sensitivity over cases of sexual violence. Four weeks on, police have not arrested any suspects. The only update I am given is the usual, “we are busy with investigations.” Sephuru’s family is waiting for justice and are frustrated by what seems to them as police inaction. The victim’s sister, Linnet Masilela, expressed disappointment at the police’s failure to act, adding that their lack of communication was merely adding injury to pain. “It’s painful enough already that the murderers of my sister are still walking free, but not being updated on the developments of the case is just not ok.” She says the police have failed to update them on any progress “if any.” Police say they are still waiting on results to prove whether she was raped and how she was murdered. But Masilela pointed out that the book in the mortuary on which her murdered sister’s name was written had “Rape and Murder” next to it. Mpumalanga Provincial police spokesperson Leonard Hlathi said he does not know anything about the post-mortem results and weather they were released. “I won’t divulge what we are doing now; all we can say is the investigations are underway.”
Statistics indicate that the prevalence rate of sexual offences decreased to 4.4% during 2010-2011. Rape still, however, remains high with over 64 000 cases of sexual offences reported during 2011-2012.Commenting on police incompetency, Jacques Sibomana from the South African National Institute for Crime Prevention and Reintegration of Offenders (NICRO) says it is without a doubt that the “police drag their feet in dealing with rape cases”. He reiterated the need for government to be involved and the SAPS to do more follow ups on sexual assault cases.It is deeply disturbing that arrest and conviction rates of rape perpetrators remains extremely low. This is not only a shocking denial of justice for the thousands of victims, but also a factor that has contributed to the normalisation of rape and violence against women in South African society. How much longer will these families have to wait for justice?
Listen to Clement’s radio report onKatlego Sephuru’s murder
– By Clement Manyathela
