After a South African police officer was accused of killing two of the women he was dating, the country’s Social Development Department urged women to break off relationships with abusive partners.
Mlungisi Blessing Sikhakhane, 27, a police officer, was reportedly detained for the murders of Sithembile Ngobese, 23, and Enhle Majozi, 18.
In the early morning hours of Friday, October 14, 2022, the incident took place in Mandela Park, which is located in KwaNyuswa, which is west of Durban. Sikhakhane murdered the two women in a room that he rented in KwaNyuswa. Both women were shot many times.
On the morning of Monday, October 17, 2022, the police officer from the Hillcrest SAPS made a brief appearance at the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court for the purpose of applying for bail.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has verified that the culprit in question is employed by the South African Police Service as a constable.
“He faces two counts of murder and was remanded in police custody to appear in court on October 26 for a formal bail application,” said NPA spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara.
Bilo Ntombela, the acting chief director of the social development cluster in the eThekwini department, stated that they had held a picket outside of the court on Monday in order to show their support for the victims and the relatives of the victims.
“We want justice for these two women, we will continue to raise awareness on gender-based violence. We have observed that the more we raise awareness the more we see the violence escalate, I also want to encourage women to leave toxic relationships,” Ntombela said.
The KwaZulu-Natal department of social development stated the details were unclear, but both young women were shot numerous times and 11 expended cartridges were collected at the crime scene. The weapon may have been a service pistol.
Friends and family of the women say that Sikhakhane dated Ngobese for eight years, starting when they were both in high school, and he started dating Majozi six months ago.
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