Women's anger over murder
2007-08-30
LOCAL residents are up in arms after two youths were released from custody after being questioned in connection with the murder and rape of a sixteen-year-old girl.
The body of Nosipiwe Madolo was found last Sunday morning on an open piece of land in Chris Hani, Mbekweni. She had been raped and then strangled to death.
Madolo, a Grade 10 learner at Desmond Tutu High, was an outstanding student who was a member of the student council at Ihlumelo Junior Secondary School last year.
Vuyani Yabo, headmaster of Ihlumelo, said that his students are distraught after the death of Madolo.
"She was a much loved young girl and other learners looked up to her.
"We are truly horrified at the brutality of her death."
It is alleged that Madolo had snuck out of her home in Phola Park to visit a tavern with friends.
The incident occurred when she was walking home alone at approximately 02:00. Her body was discovered by a friend on Sunday morning, only metres from her home.
The two youths, aged sixteen and seventeen, were arrested on Sunday after they had committed a robbery close to the scene of the crime.
They were then questioned in connection with the murder, but due to a lack of concrete evidence, were released into the custody of their parents on Monday.
This news swept like a wild-fire through Mbekweni with residents baying for their blood.
Various protest marches were held and residents openly voiced their grievances, many calling for the death penalty to be reinstated.
In an isolated incident, a police vehicle was pelted with stones.
On Tuesday approximately 150 residents of Mbekweni took to the streets of Paarl, marching to the magistrates court in protest of the senseless killing of the teenager.
The peaceful procession down the Berg River Boulevard was led by various members of the African Nation Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor David Gumenge.
Madolo’s bereaved father, Lungile Madolo, was also amongst the protestors.
Once at the court, the leaders of the march handed a memorandum to senior prosecutor Juanita Williams, to voice their grievances about the case and crime in general in Mbekweni.
A spokesperson for the police said that there is currently no positive evidence linking the youths with Madolo’s murder.
“We are doing forensic tests to determine whether they can be linked with the rape and murder. According to the law, the youngsters have been released into the custody of their parents.
“I urge the public not to take the law into their own hands, as we are committed to getting to the bottom of this case.”
Madolo's funeral will take place on Saturday at the African Nation Baptist Church at 09:00 in Chris Hani.
* A man was killed in Mbekweni on Sunday when he was stabbed with a knife.
Ayanda Ndeleni (26) was stabbed in Phokeng Street and later died at Paarl Hospital.
Lukanjo Msebenzi (21) has been arrested in connection with the incident.
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