Bloemfontein: Free State Acting MEC Thabo Meeko expressed his sadness on the killing of two women in Bloemfontein, Turflaagte, Mangaung. The case was registered at Kopanong police station.
He shared his sadness on the official page of the Free State Department of Social Development, where he said as the Department, we are absolutely outraged by the brutal killings of our women and children.
There is a stubborn, persistent, brutal killing and Gender-Based Violence and Femicide, despite President Cyril Ramaphosa declaring it as a pandemic.
Furthermore, he added, “increasing number of women and children being abducted and killed in our province, as the Department we got information that an elderly person aged 91 was poisoned and her daughter aged 63 was strangled, but the suspect is not known.”
He also said that his team of Social Workers had been directed to do proper research and help affected families.
Furthermore, Acting MEC Thabo Meeko has conveyed condolences to the bereaved family and dispatched social workers to provide psychosocial support.
He also assured that as the Department, they will closely monitor the case and keep in touch with the police in regards to the investigation to ensure the suspect is brought to book and face the arm of law.
He also appealed to the public and community members that if they have any information that could lead or assist the police in doing an investigation, they can directly go to the Kopanong police station.
However, the public seemed to be in a dilemma as Gender-based violence and crime in Free states are increasing day by day. One of the locals said, “Females are no longer safe; we need to come up with a workable strategic plan in order to alleviate the high rate of GBVF in our Province.”
Furthermore, he continued by saying, “Firstly, we need to identify small signs that could lead to violence and work on them urgently before it is too late! May the family of the deceased find comfort; may they receive all the psychosocial support they need in these difficult moments.”