Sandiso Phaliso
A PRAYER service for Anelisa Dulazewas marked by strong messages of the dangers young people in Khayelitsha faced when they go out at night.
Dulaze went missing on January 31 after going out with friends to a tavern in Town Two in Khayelitsha to celebrate her 21st birthday. Her body was found buried at a house in Makhaza over the weekend.
On Tuesday a 23-year-old suspect appeared in the Khayelitsha Magistrate’s Court facing a murder charge.
Dulaze’s mother Vathiswa Dulaze cried uncontrollably as speakers comforted her at the prayer service yesterday.
About 200 residents at the service sang hymns and prayed while community leaders urged them to take a stand and report violence whether their own children were involved or not.
Anelisa’s friend Nontembiso Qhanga, 24, described her as sweet and shy.
Town Two community leader Ntobeko Sikolo urged young people to stay indoors after sunset because there were criminals roaming the streets looking for unsuspecting targets.
Khayelitsha Development Forum chairperson Ndithini Tyhido said although every person had the right to walk the streets at anytime, they should be careful and walk in groups.
“We despise crime in general. Having fun and going partying should not be equal to abuse and violent crime. Khayelitsha people have a right to celebrate at any time of the day without being killed, but they need to be careful because there are criminals out there preying on them,” said Tyhido.
Social Justice Coalition spokesperson Chumile Sali said he hoped that Anelisa’s death was the last.
He said it was good that there had been an arrest.
“The NPA must prioritise this case and make sure that there is a conviction at the end of this case,” he said.
The police’s Khayelitsha cluster commander Johan Brand told the mourners: “The case was solved through the help of God. If community stood against apartheid, why can’t we stand against abuse?”