Action Society is outraged after Nokubonga Nomsindisi Tobela-Mjoli (89) was allegedly raped and strangled to death before her body was burnt inside her home in Umzimkhulu, KwaZulu-Natal on 29 March 2024. One suspect is in custody. We demand our Minister of Police and Minister of Justice and Correctional Services to step up and implement a comprehensive safety plan.
“This plan must focus on both preventing crimes and prosecuting offenders to the fullest extent of the law, especially when it comes to protecting the most vulnerable in our society. We need action, and we need it now,” according to Kaylynn Palm, head of Action Society’s Action Centre in the Western Cape.
Palm said it is infuriating that someone so vulnerable had to endure this horrible attack inside her own home. “It is unacceptable and saddens us to see that vulnerable people in our society are subjected to violence of this nature. She was 89-years old, how was she supposed to defend herself from this monster? We are glad that he has been arrested and we demand that he is dealt with seriously by the law,” she said.
A total of 1 135 women were killed in South Africa between October and December 2023. That’s 13 women that are killed daily.
It is deeply troubling to see an increase in these cases. It is becoming the norm across South Africa. The lack of fear for legal consequences among offenders is unacceptable. We cannot stand by while the safety of our communities continues to be compromised.
