Action Society has launched a national campaign demanding accountability and an independent investigation into the South African Police Service’s (SAPS) gross mishandling of the disappearance and death of Nonkululeko Gabriella (Gaby) Luenza Ndaba, a 31-year-old woman from Boksburg who went missing on 26 May 2023 and was found dead six days later, just days before her 32nd birthday.
From the outset, the police failed Gaby and her family. Officers at the Dawn Park Police Station showed no urgency when her family reported her missing. They failed to take critical steps in the early hours of her disappearance, most notably refusing to trace Gaby’s cellphone, despite the fact that it was still ringing until at least 8:00 the next morning. That same phone was later found on her body – evidence that could have helped locate her much sooner had it been acted upon.
When Gaby’s body was eventually discovered on 1 June 2023, SAPS once again failed to perform their duties. The crime scene was not secured, critical evidence was overlooked, and some evidence was later discovered by Gaby’s own family. Police also attempted to return her cellphone before forensic data had been properly extracted.
“This is not just a case of human error; it is a clear example of institutional negligence and bias,” said Action Society spokesperson Juanita du Preez. “Gaby’s family had to investigate her disappearance themselves. They commissioned their own post-mortem, traced evidence, and confronted witnesses because the police simply would not act.” Among the most shocking revelations is that the investigating officer assigned to the case admitted to lacking basic training and failed to approach key witnesses. Prejudicial attitudes and unfounded assumptions about Gaby’s lifestyle further compromised the investigation, adding insult to an already devastating tragedy.
Action Society is calling for urgent intervention, including the immediate reassignment of the case to a competent and experienced investigative unit, a full investigation by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) into the conduct of the Dawn Park SAPS, and a broader inquiry into how prejudice and incompetence are impacting police performance in gender-based violence and missing persons cases. Gaby’s story is not an isolated incident. It reflects a broader crisis in South Africa: a culture of indifference when women disappear, a lack of training and urgency in responding to gender-based violence and missing persons cases, and prejudice and victim-blaming attitudes within SAPS that prevent justice from being served.
“Every South African should be outraged,” du Preez added. “If this could happen to Gaby, it could happen to any family. The police are there to protect and when they fail, we must demand justice.” Action Society is calling on the public to stand with Gaby’s family and demand accountability. A national petition has been launched where South Africans can add their voices to the call for justice.
Sign the petition here.
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