16 days of activism of no violence against women and children has been put in the spotlight in the Free State after a man was sentenced to seven years in jail for attempted murder and common assault on Friday (8/12) at the Odendaalsrus Magistrates’ Court.

This crime happened after the 16 days of activism of no violence against women and children campaign was launched nationally by Deputy President Paul Mashatile Mpumalanga on 25 November.

The theme for this year’s 16 Days of Activism is “Accelerating actions to end gender-based violence & femicide: leaving no one behind”. This year the campaign marks 25 years since it was initiated in South Africa.

‘This year the campaign marks 25 years since it was started in SA’

Amos Moshodi (37) from Odendaalsrus was found guilty after he continuously assaulted his girlfriend (36) on 20 June and 6 August 2022 and eventually stabbed her.

In the first incident on 20 June 2022, Moshodi slapped and threatened his girlfriend with a knife and forced her back to his shack at knifepoint. The second incident occurred on 6 August when Moshodi hit his 36-year-old girlfriend with a beer bottle when they were at a tavern, emergency services were called, and she sustained injuries on the head, hand, and eye and was transferred to a hospital in Bloemfontein.

“The sentence will send a clear-cut message to women abusers that crime does not pay as we are in celebration of 16 Days of Activism against the abuse of women and children,” said Free State police spokesperson Stephen Thakeng.

‘The sentence will send a clear-cut message to women abusers’

OFM News previously reported on the disappearance of a 16-year-old from Rocklands Machaka Radebe who was reported missing on Saturday (2/12) and after two days her lifeless body was found with stab wounds in a field in Phase 9 in Bloemfontein.

Ontvoerde Bloemfonteinse tiener dood gevind

She was laid to rest on Saturday (9/12) and the service was full with Brebner High School learners in full uniform to bid her farewell.

 “No one has been arrested at this stage and the police appeal to anyone who may have information about the incident to call Colonel Bolsiek on 082 466 8530 or report it to their police office.”

Jong Bloemfonteinse vroue nêrens te vinde; ontvoering vermoed

Free State police are still on the lookout for Lesego Motaung (22) who was reported missing on 30 October after she was last seen leaving her home in Uitsig to go to work at a fast food restaurant in Zastron Street, Westdene.

Lerato Masiu (23) was last seen on 16 November when she left her home on with a man who posed as an investigating officer.

Since then, the investigation team has been given strict instructions by Free State provincial commissioner Baile Motswenyane to make sure they apprehend these vicious criminals and bring back Motaung and Masiu, who are both still missing.

OFM News