Minister in the Presidency, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, has condemned the killing of Zolile Khumalo, who was allegedly shot dead by her ex-boyfriend on Tuesday.
Khumalo, a Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) first year quantity surveying student, was shot dead at a student residence in front of her roommate.
According to reports, Khumalo had been trying to break up with her alleged killer for at least two weeks.
“This gruesome killing occurs within 24 hours of Sandile Mantsoe being found guilty of murdering Karabo Mokoena. Although it is not our intention to pre-empt the motive behind Khumalo’s killing, it is clear that young women are not safe in our society,” Minister Dlamini Zuma said.
The Minister also called on all student bodies to introduce awareness programs on gender violence.
“Our universities and other institutions of higher learning must take precautionary measures to improve security to ensure the safety of students in their care. It is not acceptable that someone could easily breach security to commit such a heinous crime.
“We wish to offer our deepest condolences to the Khumalo’s family, friends and her fellow students. Our social services should be on call to provide support to the family in its period of grief. We call on our law enforcement agencies to swiftly investigate the murder and bring the perpetrator to book,” the Minister said.
Minister Dlamini Zuma added that she trusted that our justice system will prevail the same way it did in the case of Mantsoe.
“The sentencing of Mantsoe should send a stern warning to all other perpetrators of violence against women to desist from committing such deplorable acts. We have full confidence in our law enforcement that those implicated in the murder of Khumalo will be brought to book,” Minister Dlamini Zuma said.
On Thursday, the South Gauteng High Court Judge Peet Johnson sentenced Mantsoe to an effective 32 years in prison – 30 years for the murder of Mokoena and a further five years for assault, and four years for defeating the ends of justice.
Two of the five years for the assault and three of the four years for the obstruction of justice would run concurrently.
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