EThekwini Municipality Mayor, Mxolisi Kaunda has condemned in the strongest terms the acts of gender-based violence that continue to plague the municipality following the brutal killing of two women whose lifeless bodies were found by police in KwaMashu yesterday, 29 September 2020.

 

The two women who sustained fatal gunshot wounds to their heads, were found in the bushes of near a local clinic. The motive for the killings is still unknown at this stage.

 

These killings have left the KwaMashu community reeling in shock following the discovery of the remains of four-year-old Sanelisiwe Mhlongo in the township’s M-section last week. KwaMashu is amongst the 30 gender-based violence hot spots in the country, according to the recently released crime statistics.

 

Mayor Kaunda has urged police to speed up the investigation surrounding the brutal murders to ensure that perpetrators face the full might of the law.

 

“It is shocking and disturbing that a person would harm women in such a ruthless manner. These gruesome killings are an act of gender-based violence and our communities should not tolerate them. We have full confidence in our law enforcement agencies that they will leave no stone unturned to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book,” he said.

 

Mayor Kaunda urged members of the community to share any information which may assist police in making a swift arrest.

 

In the fight against gender-based violence in eThekwini, Mayor Kaunda has began hosting crime awareness and prevention seminars with a special focus on GBV hotspots. These on-going seminars, which started in Umlazi and Inanda have resulted in the development of practical crime fighting initiatives involving the police and community crime fighting structures.

 

During the tabling of the 2020/21 budget policy statement in May, Mayor Kaunda announced developments of an integrated law enforcement strategy as well as a Metro-wide Community Safety Forum which brings together all stakeholders in the City in the fight against crime.

 

ENDS

 

Issued by the Mayor’s Office. For more information, kindly contact Mayoral Spokesperson Mluleki Mntungwa on ‪060 974 1140