ANCWL WELCOMES MULTIPLE LIFE SENTENCES FOR DIEPSLOOT CHILD MURDERER & APPLAUDS SAPS ON ARREST OF SUSPECT IN TAEGRIN MORRIS KILLING
29 OCTOBER 2014
The African National Congress Women's League (ANCWL) joins all South Africans in welcoming the nine life sentences plus 15 years handed down to convicted murderer and rapist Ntokozo Hadebe.
The North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria found Hadebe guilty of abducting, raping and murdering three children in the Diepslootinformal settlement last year.
The killings of Anelisa Mkhonto, 5, Zandile Mali, 3 and her cousin Yonelisa Mali, 2 were height of depravity by a callous criminal with scant regard for the lives of society's most vulnerable.
"Today our courts have vindicated our position that there is no place in society for unrepentant criminals; what he has done has deprived three children of a bright future.. the youngest victim was still in nappies when she was killed," says ANCWL President Angie Motshekga.
"As Judge Nico Coetzee noted, the interests of society dictate that those convicted of such crimes should be harshly punished," added Motshekga.
As communities who care for the welfare of our women and children, it is important for men to be provided with positive role models enabling them to be responsible sons, fathers and husbands - instead of turning to crime. The ANCWL believes everyone has a role to play in educating young men so that they do not grow up to choose a life of criminality.
The ANCWL congratulates the SAPS, and in particular the Child Protection Unit and the Honeydew/Diepsloot police station -for theirefforts in bringing the perpetrator to book.
"This once again shows that collaboration between communities and law-enforcement can help rid us of criminals, " says Molewa.
The ANCWL also congratulates the SAPS for the arrest of a suspect in the killing of four year-old Taegrin Morris, who died after being dragged behind his mother's hijacked vehicle earlier this year.
The ANCWL remains outraged at the continued levels of violence against women and children across the country, and once again urges all South Africans to assist the SAPS with information that may lead to thearrest of those suspected of crimes.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Mkhonto and Mali families; we hope the conviction of the killer of their loved ones may bring a means of closure and healing. The Morris family remains in our thoughts as they continue to grieve the loss of their child.
Statement issued by Edna Molewa, Head of Communications, African National Congress Women's League, October 29 2014
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