Scores of Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) members in Ward 98, Khayelitsha, marched to Lingelethu-West Police Station on Saturday 21 May calling for top detectives to probe Thandi Ndaba’s murder.
Ndaba’s body was found dumped along Baden Powell Drive on Thursday 12 May after she went missing four days earlier.
Dominated by women, the march started at Ngwevela Street.
According to Ward 98 EFF proportional representation (PR) councillor and a branch secretary Linda Mazwi, Ndaba (54) was killed at her house in Nduli Street, Ilitha Park. “Part of our grievances was that, we wanted the detectives in this case to speed-up the investigation. We need police visibility at Ilitha Park,” said Mazwi.
She described the way Ndaba was killed as “traumatic”. She said blood stains were found in her bed.
Mazwi said as an organisation and women they felt it was time to stand up and fight against gender-based violence (GBV).
“We are saying ‘No’ to GBV. Enough is Enough. Ilitha Park has become a crime scene. People are killed every day here. We need police intervention,” she stated, adding that as community members they felt police did not care about them.
Speaking on behalf of Ndaba’s family, Amanda Mdoda said the deceased will be buried at Bergville in KwaZuluNatal on Saturday 28 May.
“We are still devastated as a family by her death. We are hoping that justice will prevail,” said Mdoda.
Explaining how she heard about Ndaba’s disappearance, Mdoda said she received a call from one of Ndaba’s neighbour informing her that it’s been a while since she was last seen.
“I received a call on Wednesday 11 May from the deceased’s neighbour telling me that it’s been three days not seeing my sister while I was at work. On Thursday 12 May I went to report her missing to the Lingelethu-West Police Station. On Friday 13 I received a call from the police station in Mitchell’s Plain requesting the deceased’s picture citing that there was an unknown body that was found near Monwabisi Beach. Later the same day, the police confirmed that it’s her body,” said Mdoda, adding that the deceased was still wearing her pyjamas and wrapped with a sheet.
Mdoda could not confirm if the deceased was stabbed or not.
Lingelethu-West police station spokesperson Sgt Xoliswa Nyalambisa said no arrest has been made yet. Only one person was taken in for questioning. “The murder case is currently under investigation at Mitchell’s Plain police station,” said Nyalambisa.
When City Vision asked about the incident at the Mitchell’s Plain Police Station spokesperson Zandi Langa said the docket was opened and transferred to Lingelethu-West Police Station. “The police at Lingelethu are the ones who are going to investigate the case because the incident happened in their area. All the information is in the docket,” said Langa.