The colleagues of the deceased, who was brutally murdered, called on the magistrate to deny the husband bail. A Nehawu representative at the Free State Department of Sport, Arts, and Culture in the Free State, Paul Mosikatsane, said gender-based violence (GBV) is still being treated as a family secret, as victims are reluctant to speak out. He says some of the victim's colleagues knew that she has been abused for a long time prior to her death, however, they were told to keep quiet. Mosikatsane encouraged victims of abuse to come out and speak and not leave it until they end up being killed like their colleague.

“Let’s break the silence, this silence - let it stop. Let us go back to our basics, where we used to speak to those we know in our communities, who will assist. Lend a helping hand. Let's not set them up to be rumours, rather come and assist to get them out of these shackles they are in. We cannot be living in this way, not any longer. We need to say no to abuse, we need to say no to femicide, we cannot have this any longer,” he added.

READ MORE: #GBV cases in FS concerning after another murder

OFM News reported about this case after the suspect was arrested, allegedly after setting his wife alight in her car. She later died, following a lengthy hospital stay. The case was postponed to 14 March 2022 for a formal bail application, while the suspect remains in police custody.

OFM News