Gauteng ANC Women's League condemns the brutal killing of Elsie Mahlangu.
The Gauteng ANC Women's League condemns in the strongest possible terms the brutal killing of Elsie Mahlangu. The barbaric murder of Elsie Mahlangu is yet another gruesome reminder of how communities are unsafe for married women, who should be protected by their husbands and families. Elsie Mahlangu, was stabbed and set alight at her home in Cullinan, east of Pretoria on Monday, allegedly by her ex-boyfriend.
It is indeed a cruel irony that she was killed on the Women's Month. The alleged ex-boyfriend arrived at Mahlangu's home at 2pm while she was alone. An argument ensued during which Mahlangu was stabbed several times in the upper body. The knifeman then, set the house alight and ran away.
Neighbours saw the smoke and used buckets of water to put out the blaze, before finding Mahlangu's charred body lying on the floor. This act of barbarity is unacceptable and cannot be tolerated in a society like ours where law and order rein.
The fact this she was killed at her house, also speaks volumes about curbing the growing violence and sexual harassment against women in our country. While it is important that the guilty is brought to book, it is also important to sensitize the community towards the issues involved.
But we must realize the fact that the prevalent patriarchal structures also make it difficult for a woman to report such incidents even within her family and relatives, as most often the solution is presented in terms of restricting the mobility of women or blaming them for their own conduct. The fight against such crimes cannot be won without confronting and challenging the patriarchal stereotypes.
Furthermore, the ANC Women's League extends condolences to Mahlangu's family, and we call on the relevant law enforcement agencies to move swiftly in dealing firmly with the perpetrators of this merciless deed.
Statement issued by Nomantu Ralehoko Nkomo and Refiloe Mogale, ANC Women's League Gauteng, September 2 2011
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