A NEWCASTLE family is hoping that justice will prevail after the murder of their daughter.
Cindy Mnguni, a young businesswoman, was allegedly murdered by her boyfriend on August 10, just one day after the country celebrated Women’s Day.
Mnguni’s murder and the horrific murder of 23-year-old University of Fort Hare student, Nosicelo Mtebeni, who was allegedly killed and dismembered by her boyfriend have sparked outrage on social media.
Gauteng police spokesperson Captain Mavela Masondo confirmed that Mnguni was allegedly shot dead outside her home in Gauteng.
The suspect was apprehended after the incident and was granted R15 000 bail after appearing at the Alexandra Regional Court yesterday.
Phindi Louw-Mjodondwane, National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson in Gauteng, said the suspect was charged with murder and the case would be back in court on October 4.
Mnguni’s uncle, Sipho Dlangala, said when they received the news about Mnguni being shot, he did not think that she had died. “I thought I was going to be told the hospital she was admitted to; never did I imagine that she would be dead,” he said.
Dlangala said the family was disappointed that the suspect was granted bail and feared that the murder would be an unresolved case.
Dlangala said he had heard from Mnguni’s friends that she had a difficult relationship with the accused and had changed her social media accounts to avoid him.
He described the 29-year-old Mnguni as a driven and responsible person who had taken care of her family. He said she lived in Joburg, and sold cosmetics to take care of her family.
Dlangala said her death has taken a toll on her sickly grandmother. She “was only blessed with granddaughters, and she always said Cindy was the grandson she had never had as she was responsible for her family”.
Meanwhile, the accused in the Mtebeni matter, appeared in the East London Magistrate’s Court yesterday. The 25-year-old abandoned bail and his case was postponed to September 28 for further investigations.
Dozens of university students and
activists gathered outside court yesterday to demand that the accused was not granted bail. In Mtebeni’s honour, the University of Fort Hare’s executive committee decided to declare tomorrow an official day of mourning, with all activities suspended for the day.
Matatiele Local Municipality mayor Momelezi Mbedla, said they would work with Mtebeni’s family during this difficult time. “We strongly condemn this act. We are saddened by the passing of Nosicelo. This family has requested privacy to deal with this. We also appeal to people to stop sharing pictures of the (dismembered) body of Nosicelo,” he said
Commission for Gender Equality chairperson Tamara Mathebula said the continued killings of women had marred the spirit of Women’s Month and was an act of confrontation against the law by gender-based violence perpetrators.
THE MERCURY