Law fails victims, memorial service for slain woman traditional leader told

Eastern Cape traditional leaders have echoed deputy state security minister Zizi Kodwa in lashing out at SA laws, saying they benefited perpetrators and failed crime victims.

Traditional leaders were speaking in Centane during a memorial service for the slain traditional leader Nkosikazi Nomlindelo Dondashe, 53, who was gunned down on Wednesday last week.

Dondashe will be buried on December 3 at Sintsane village, in Centane.

On Tuesday, Kodwa, who is from Centane, was reacting to this murder and a number of other mass killings in the Eastern Cape.

During Wednesday s memorial

provincial’ service, House of Traditional Leaders member Nkosi Mfundo Mtirara said the country’s high crime rate made a mockery of SA laws.

Both Mtirara and Kodwa said laws should be changed, and that the ANC’S conference at Nasrec in December should consider this.

Laws enacted in 1996 were no longer fit for purpose in 2022’s crime-ridden SA.

Mtirara said: “Criminals are benefiting from these current laws. We want laws that benefit victims.

“Criminals have the right to be released on bail, get parole, and are not subjected to torture, and taxpayers are footing the bill for them.

“Criminals are too often released on bail and again they commit crimes, killing and raping people.

“How can we have a country whose laws promote criminality?”

Speaking to the Daily Dispatch, Mtirara and another traditional leader, Nkosikazi Nobhongo Ngonyama, said they had suggested to police minister Bheki Cele and police management that Dondashe’s murder be prioritised and the 72hour plan be activated.

“This was a leader, a woman who was killed so brutally,” Ngonyama said.

Dondashe, of Nxaxho village in Centane, was also the chair of Lingelihle Feedlot Co-operative and Beef Kraal, an agriculture project headed by traditional leaders working with prominent businesswoman Gloria Serobe.

She was also the deputy chair of the Centane traditional leaders’ forum.

Dondashe family spokesperson Ntlahlela Dondashe said Nomlindelo’s body was found dumped in Theko Fihla forest, near the King Hintsa TVET College, with a bullet wound to the back of the head.

“She was found lying face down holding her ID card and other cards,” he said.

She took over as acting leader of the Ngqusi Traditional Council in 2013.

Though she was a traditional leader under Amaxhosa King Ahlangene Sigcawu, Dondashe was one of the senior royal members of Amarharhabe’s King Jonguxolo Vululwandle Sandile in Mngqesha, near Qonce.

King Sandile led a delegation of the Amarharhabe royal family to the memorial service, which was organised by the Mnquma municipality.

At the time of her death, Dondashe was preparing for the traditional initiation of her son and last-born, Prince Samuel Dondashe, 18, who is writing matric at Dondashe High School in Sintsane.

Samuel was to undergo initiation on December 3, but this has now been postponed to December 8.

Speaking on behalf of King Sandile, his uncle Nkosi Khumzi Sandile called for the speedy arrest of Dondashe’s killers.

“The whole traditional leadership is hurt, this is a big blow to us all.”

MPL Nozibele Nyalambisa spoke out strongly against drug abuse in Centane and the local police station ’ s limited resources.

“The police station services 44 administrative areas which comprise over 300 villages.

“We need a satellite police station to fight crime.

“It cannot be right to have one police station serving such a huge population.”

Dondashe will be buried on December 3 at Sintsane village in Centane