‘ Assault’ accused gets R300 bail

Family outraged following death of young woman allegedly beaten by boyfriend

The family of the 27-yearold woman who died after she was allegedly beaten up by her boyfriend in Mlungisi feel let down by the justice system after he was released on just R300 bail. The Mgqobozi family are also upset that the police took four days to arrest the accused, Xolisa Baza.

According to the family, the police had said they had to question the victim in hospital before the case could be officially opened.

Bongeka Mgqobozi, who sustained brain damage, died last Sunday evening, after spending seven days in Frontier Hospital, battling for her life.

According to her aunt, Nobulumko Mketi, the incident happened when the couple had argued after Mgqobozi had wanted to separate from her boyfriend.

This, she alleged, caused Baza to retaliate violently against her.

Mketi said Mgqobozi s

’ parents, who live in Mhlanga village in Cacadu, received a call from their daughter s

’ neighbours, who informed them about the incident and that their daughter was in hospital. When he arrived at the

“ward, her father could not recognise her face and thought we were in the wrong ward. Her face was badly injured “and swollen and she was not able to move her body,” Mketi said.

The family then went to the police station in Mlungisi, where Mgqobozi s mother tried

’ to open a case against Baza. Mgqobozi s mother was

“’ told by two policemen on duty that they needed to go to the hospital to confirm with the victim.

However, we learnt on the “fourth day at the hospital that the officers had not been.”

She said the family had a meeting with the station commander in Mlungisi, at which they had reported their dissatisfaction with the police service.

He apologised and said if

“the officers had followed up the matter in hospital, the accused would not have been out on

R300 bail.” Mketi said the station commander committed to deal with the matter and that the charge would be changed from assault to murder.

She said the station commander said he would also attend the court appearance.

Police spokesperson Namhla Mdleleni said: A case of assault

“was opened and will change after the post-mortem report.

If there are allegations

“about the way the police handled the case, the family can make a statement and an investigation will follow.”