Clarion call to bring Gender Based Violence perpetrators to justice: Gqeberha

GQEBERHA – The fight against Gender Based Violence (GBV) is a continuous one and every effort must be made to arrest the perpetrators and ensure that justice is served.

Gender Based Violence is regarded as a serious violation of women’s rights and police are urging communities to work together in bringing offenders to book. A 30-year-old alleged murder suspect was arrested after the body of his girlfriend was found in his shack yesterday morning, 8 August 2021.

It is alleged that at about 11:35, after hearing rumours of a body in a shack in Vastrap in Booysens Park, the brother of the deceased went to investigate but the suspect informed him that his sister, Virginia Jordaan (38) was not there. A while later, community members arrived at the shack and found the body of Ms Jordaan. She sustained multiple stab wounds on her body.

It is further alleged that Ms Jordaan visited her boyfriend on Saturday evening, 7 August 2021 at about 18:30 and spent the night with him. Motive for the murder is suspected to be domestic related.

The suspect is detained on a charge of murder and will appear in the Gqeberha magistrates’ court on Tuesday, 10 August 2021.

In another unrelated incident, the Family Violence Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit in Kariega is on the hunt for a 25-year-old suspect who allegedly raped a 14-year-old teenager.

It is alleged that on Saturday 7 August 2021, the victim was walking down Khozi Street in Kingstown when she was approached by the suspect who is known to her. She accompanied him to his house where she was allegedly raped. She managed to run away during the night and reported the incident to her mother.

The suspect is on the run however police are following up on leads and an arrest is imminent.

Acting District Commissioner, Brig Thandiswa Kupiso has reiterated the SAPS’s commitment to eradicate and eliminate all forms of gender based violence.’ We want to advise women and this includes our female teenagers and children to never to walk alone at night and to always be wary of your surroundings as well as the company of people that you are socialising with. Gender Based Violence is a priority and perpetrators of such crimes will not be at the mercy of our justice system,’ added Brig Kupiso.

Members of the community are urged to report any incidents of gender based violence and femicide at your nearest police station, SAPS Crime Stop 08600 10111 or by sending a tip off via MySAPSApp. All information received will be treated with the strictest confidence

Source: South African Police Service