Incidents of violence against women and children continue to skyrocket in Zandspruit, apparently without any proper action being taken against the perpetrators.
In the latest incident, Takalani Madzihiga, a single mother of one, lost everything in her shack in a fire that was allegedly started by her ex-boyfriend.
On Wednesday, 13 March, Madzihiga and her child almost burnt to death in their shack after the ex-boyfriend allegedly violated her protection order against him, and paid her an unwanted visit with the intention of setting her and the shack alight.
According to the fearful mother, the boyfriend had been previously arrested for damaging the property of her new lover. “He went to my boyfriend’s place and caused damage there. We got him arrested, but the police told us to withdraw the case because he agreed to pay for the damages,” she said, describing the original ordeal.
Also Read:
https://roodepoortnorthsider.co.za/286800/krugersdorpmurders-marinda-steyn-said-cecilia-best-friend-testimony/
After the settlement was made, the ex-boyfriend, whom Madzihiga claims has been stalking her and threatening to kill her, came back to cause more trouble. “He came back and demanded all the items he had bought for me. I returned everything, but he continued threatening to burn me and throw me in the nearby dam,” she recounted.
Following the threats, the shack was razed to the ground. “I opened a case of arson at the Honeydew Police Station, and he was arrested. However, he was released from custody shortly thereafter, without the police notifying me.”
“He came back and told me straight to my face that he is not scared of the police, because he is able to bribe them,” she said.
The Honeydew Police have been approached for comment.
In the meantime, Ward 114 PR councillor, Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku, who sacrificed some of her own son’s clothes and toys to help Madzihiga and her son, expressed her shock about the incident and the ongoing plight women suffer. “Madzihiga’s story shows that people who report such matters to the police get brushed aside. It also shows that the police that we have at the moment are not taking gender-based violence seriously, and that needs to change.”
“We really need those specialised units back at the stations to act swiftly when a woman or a child has been abused,” she explained.
The councillor vowed to continue to fight for the rights of the residents of Zandspruit, as she believes they deserve better. “This community has been forgotten for more than 20 years, and it’s time that we highlight their plight, especially as it pertains to violence and crimes against women and children,” she concluded.
