By TOTO TSARNEBA
Protestors from eNkanini and Riebeek East chanted slogans and sang songs against GBV outside the Makhanda Magistrate’s Court on 6 May.
They were demanding justice for the murder of a woman found dead in eNkanini on April 14 and the survivor of a brutal attack in Riebeek East on April 15.
Patricia May, an eNkanini leader and organiser of the protesters, said her community struggled with GBV.
After waiting for six hours to hear the court outcomes, May heard that the two cases had been postponed. She said she would keep coming to the court until justice was served.
She said she appreciated the people who keep coming in numbers and fighting for those who cannot fight for themselves. “I will remain the voice of the voiceless as a leader of eNkanini,” she said.
May’s utopia is to see Makhanda as a crime-free place with no GBV where people live peacefully and happily.
The Vuyelwa Ntulini murder case was postponed to allow Advocate Gilindoda to consult the suspect about the case.
The rape suspect will be held in custody without bail until the case resumes on 17 May to protect the survivor. The suspect pleaded to be released on bail because he is working and wants to take care of his mother. The court said the suspect should have thought about this before committing the crime.
The court heard testimony that the rape suspect forced the survivor to go to his house before beating and raping her. The victim survived because she managed to fight back and run.
The court said the rape suspect could appeal the denial of bail while waiting in custody for the case to resume.
