No end in sight for GBV abuse

At the weekend our nation watched in horror as an Eastern Cape woman blew the lid on how her late sister suffered the most unspeakable abuse, allegedly at the hands of her partner.

Sanga Nozintaba’s posts on social media detailed how her sister, Namhla Mtwa’s boyfriend, businessman Major Bhekizulu Mfesane, allegedly tormented her for years until she was murdered a month ago.

Screenshots of what appears to be messages between the couple demonstrate an emotionally and physically abused woman who was terrified of her partner.

They show how she was robbed of her free will and made to believe she had no authority to make daily decisions, including about her movements without his permission.

Photos of her battered body and a video of her being sjamboked on a bed all tell a gruesome tale of torture and dehumanisation.

On April 21, Mtwa was shot nine times in her driveway in Mthatha.

Evidence of her abuse and subsequent murder have touched a raw nerve and sparked a new wave of public protest against genderbased violence. Her family believes Mfesane is behind her murder.

Their suspicion is reasonable considering what appears to be his treatment of her in the lead-up to her death.

However, at this stage we do not know if Mfesane is involved in the killing. He has publicly denied any involvement in the murder.

He told our sister publication, the Daily Dispatch: “I did not kill Namhla. Even while I am mourning her death, people are rubbing salt in my wounds by judging me.”

As is standard practice with police investigations, we are not yet privy to its details nor do we know if he is a person of interest.

What we know is that the evidence pointing to her abuse, allegedly at his hands, should be enough to form the basis of an investigation into assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm and other domestic violence charges.

A police statement at the weekend was silent on this, thus raising questions about whether authorities see no value in pursuing a prosecution for the unspeakable abuse Mtwa suffered. We hope not.

These are serious allegations backed up by what appears to be strong evidence. They too warrant an investigation which should, hopefully, lead to the successful prosecution of her abuser.

She deserves that much.