Soweto family in anguish as murder case stalls

Four-year wait takes a toll

A Soweto family is demanding justice for one of its members who was gunned down more than four years ago but no-one has been arrested.

Pule Kgaratsi, 51, was killed on July 30 2017 in White City, Soweto. A murder case was then opened at the Moroka police station.

But till today no-one has been arrested and this is weighing heavily on the minds of members of Kgaratsi’s family in Protea.

Kgaratsi’s sister Queen Molefe said what is frustrating the family is that they have brought information to the police but have not received updates on the progress of the investigation.

Molefe said on the day of Kgaratsi’s death, someone who he knew came to Protea and brought Kgaratsi’s jacket that he was wearing on the day.

The family later alerted the police that the person had a video which showed that Kgaratsi was wearing a certain ring. That ring had allegedly been seen worn by the same person who brought the jacket.

“Police did nothing [based] on the information that we gave them. We’ve been calling the police to try and get updates but they do not pick up the phone.

“They have not told us at what stage the investigation of the case is. We’ve been very frustrated as a family in the way that the police have handled the case.

“They never even went to the person who has the video to get it and do their investigation. I cannot allow this to continue,” Molefe said.

She added that the silence by the police is taking a toll on the family.

“Last month, it was a full four years since my brother died. But nothing has happened in finding his killers. It is really painful to me. He was such a loving man and died in such gruesome fashion. We, as a family, cannot find peace until those responsible for his murder are behind bars. That is all we are asking for,” Molefe said.

Sowetan sent questions to police spokesperson Cpt Kay Makhubele on the progress in the investigations but he had not replied at the time of going to print.