Mom found in cuffs, ’ badly beaten, hanged
• Police question boyfriend • Family speaks of abusive relationship • Cause of death still to be determined
A Komga mother was handcuffed, beaten to a bloody pulp and found hanging from a ceiling in yet another atrocity to rock this year's 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign in the Eastern Cape.
The death of Nontando Misani, 34, on Thursday night comes barely a week after Nomzamo Mhlanti, 42, and her five children were hacked to death at their home in Sidebekweni village outside Elliotdale on November 24.
A man understood to be Misani's boyfriend has taken in for questioning by police. The Dispatch knows the man's identity, but he cannot be named. The Misani family believe he is responsible for Nontando's death.
Provincial police spokesperson Col Sibongile Soci said: "Saps can confirm that a
47-year-old suspect has been taken in for questioning to assist the police with their investigation following the discovery of the body of a 34-year-old woman on December 3 at about 8pm.
“Komga detectives are still waiting for postmortem results which will determine the cause of death. "A murder charge is under investigation.
What emerged on Friday, at least according to Misani's shattered family, is that itwas not the first time the man had handcuffed and brutally assaulted her.
But not even they believed her life would be extinguished at the end of a rope tied to the ceiling of the man's home in Dongweni location in Komga.
Speaking to the Dispatch at Misani's family home in Stocks Location in Komga on Friday, the woman's grandmother, Nozithandisa
Misani recalled seeing her "for a few minutes" on Tuesday. Misani was the mother of a fiveyear-old girl.
Nozithandisa said she had begged her granddaughter to leave her boyfriend because he was abusive. She warned her that he would end up killing her. Nontando replied that she would not stay “long at her boyfriend's place and would be back the same day,” she said, making no effort to hide her tears.
She learnt of her granddaughter's death from her daughter, Misani's mother Nomvumela Misani, who lives in Gauteng.
“Nomvumela was called by the boyfriend to say that Nontando had committed suicide by hanging herself in his room. How pathetic for him to lie,” she said.
The Dispatch was told by the family that the man is part of the local community safety patrol, and that was why he had handcuffs. I told Nontando to leave this man because “
I heard he was beating her. I told her the man would kill her but she would not listen. She wanted to break up with him but she was scared because the man is violent. The other day I told this man to stop beating her and he apologised.
"We've heard stories that he ties her up when he beats her. This shows that he is violent.”
Nozithandisa said there were occasions when the man would arrive at the family home in Stocks at midnight demanding to see her.
"Because she was scared, she would go with him. I never approved of the relationship but you cannot choose who someone loves."
The pensioner said Misani's death had left a huge void in the family.
"She was loving and caring and did her chores. I don't know who will help us now because she was the strength of this family.”
Nozithandisa hoped the suspect would rot in jail.
“I don't want to see him again. Why did he not kill himself after he had [allegedly] killed my granddaughter? Why is he afraid of dying, yet he [allegedly] kills? Why did he not speak to people about whatever problems he had with Nontando?”
Community leader Laydo Mngeni said the man was part of the community safety patrol, but this man has failed us as men ”.
“It is preached everywhere that we should “not abuse women and children because there will be consequences. He was part of that gospel but now he does the opposite,” Mngeni said.
“Women live in fear and don't trust men any more. Justice must take its course.”
Dr Lesley Ann Foster, the director of Masimanyane Women's Rights International, described gender-based violence as being out of control.
"None of the work we are doing seems to penetrate the minds of the perpetrators. We just have to continue working and spreading the word that there are consequences for every action,” Foster said.
Men feel like they can beat women up and “mutilate their bodies, and that thinking is plain wrong.”
On Tuesday Nowa Makula, 32, made his first court appearance in connection with the killing of the Elliotdale family.
The matter was postponed for a formal bail application in the Elliotdale magistrate's court on Monday.
I don ’ t want to see him again. Why did he not kill himself after he had [allegedly] killed my granddaughter? Why is he afraid of dying, yet he kills? Why did he not speak to people about whatever problems he had?