Man to appear in court for beating his girlfriend to death

A 45-YEAR-OLD man is expected to appear in the Mahlabathini Magistrate’s Court today, charged with the murder of his girlfriend.

Ningi Gasa was beaten to death on Women’s Day, allegedly by her boyfriend.

According to Ulundi police, they were called to the Sishwili area where a 42-year-old was killed by a known suspect on August 9.

“On arrival, they found a female lying in a pool of blood with multiple injuries. It is alleged that the 45-yearold man assaulted the deceased and fled with a 6-month-old baby. A murder case is being investigated by Ulundi SAPS. The suspect was arrested later and on August 11 he appeared before Mahlabathini Magistrate’s Court,” said Constable Thenjiswa Ngcobo.

Ulundi Municipality Deputy Mayor Thembelihle Gaba Madela said they would be outside the court today picketing and calling for the man to be kept behind bars.

“I urge all women from Ondini to come to court. Men must stop killing women. Killing your woman is not the way to fix things,” Gaba Madela said.

She said that it was not just women who endured abuse and that men experienced it too.

“However, women and children are killed the most. Women must speak up if they are being abused. They must not stay and be bound by the fact that the person will provide for them.”

She encouraged women to report incidents to the police.

Remona Mckenzie with the DA’S Women’s Network said leading up to Women’s Day there had been brutal murders of women taking place in KZN: “The two Grade 12s hacked to death. MUT student stabbed to death by boyfriend. Umgababa pregnant woman stabbed to death and torched, allegedly by her son. Eight women raped in Krugersdorp. The list continues. There is a drastic increase in GBV and a huge lack of response from our government,” she said.

“Women from all areas need to stand up and make sure we are heard by placing more pressure for change. We cannot continue to say enough is enough every year, our presence must be felt now more than ever.

“We need to be taken seriously,” Mckenzie said.