Action Society has written to Gauteng Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela, demanding urgent intervention and accountability in the investigation into the murder of 31-year-old Nonkululeko Gabriella (Gaby) Ndaba.
Ndaba, from Van Dyk Park in Boksburg, was reported missing on 26 May 2023 after failing to return from a routine walk. Her body was discovered on 1 June under deeply disturbing circumstances. More than two years later, no arrests have been made, and her family continues to face unanswered questions about the investigation.
Action Society’s letter highlights a series of shocking investigative failures by Dawn Park SAPS, including:
- the failure to immediately register the case as a missing person;
- the improper securing and processing of the crime scene;
- delayed and inadequate retrieval of critical forensic evidence;
- mishandling of Ms Ndaba’s cellphone before data extraction; and
- the failure to interview key witnesses.
It is further alleged that evidence found by the family was never collected by SAPS, and that proper investigative steps were only taken after relentless pressure from the family. Despite repeated requests for the case to be transferred to a competent investigative unit, the family’s pleas have gone unanswered.
“The Ndaba family has been failed at every turn. This is not just about one family’s fight for justice – it is about the public’s right to trust that SAPS will protect them and act with urgency when lives are at stake. We are calling on the provincial commissioner to step in, transfer the case to a capable unit, and ensure that those responsible for Gaby’s death are brought to justice,” said Juanita du Preez, spokesperson for Action Society.
“We must ask the painful question – if police had acted promptly when Gaby was first reported missing and traced her phone, could she have been found sooner, perhaps even alive? Their failure to act decisively may have cost her life. South Africans deserve better than this negligence,” Du Preez added.
Action Society has requested a written response from the Provincial Commissioner within 14 days. Should SAPS fail to respond, the matter will be escalated to the National Commissioner, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), and the Public Protector.
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