A somber mood filled the air as the community of Duduza gathered to bid farewell to 5-year-old Ntombenhle Nzima, who was brutally raped and murdered on New Year’s Day. The funeral service, held at the Duduza Multi-Purpose Center on January 11, was attended by family members, neighbors, local leaders, and dignitaries.
_Family’s Emotional Farewell_
Ntombenhle’s family is still struggling to come to terms with her untimely death. Her father, Siphiwe Mcethe, lamented that the family is deeply sad and believes that the perpetrator will face divine retribution. “We are still deeply sad about what happened, and we believe that the perpetrator will get divine retribution. My heart is broken because they robbed us of the little one, and she did not deserve to die at such a young age,” he said.
_Community Outrage and Demands for Justice_
The community is outraged and shocked by the incident, and many are calling for justice to be served. Ward Councillor Bongani Hlophe emphasized the need to unite and fight against gender-based violence. “We need to unite and fight the scourge of gender-based violence. Political parties and different stakeholders must assist in finding the killers,” he said.
_Premier’s Deadline for Arrests_
Premier Panyaza Lesufi gave the police a deadline to identify the perpetrator, but as of January 12, no arrests had been made. The police have urged anyone with information regarding Ntombenhle’s murder to come forward.
_Spiritual Intervention Called For_
Pastor Paseka Mboro Motsoeneng, who attended Ntombenhle’s funeral, called for spiritual intervention to combat violence against children. He blamed evil spirits for the recent tragic events and urged the government to give churches more authority to pray over schools and communities.
_Conclusion_
The brutal murder of Ntombenhle Nzima has sent shockwaves throughout the community, and her family and loved ones continue to demand justice for her senseless killing. The incident highlights the need for urgent attention to be given to the safety and protection of children in South Africa. As the community mourns the loss of Ntombenhle, it is also calling for action to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.