Siyavuya Mzantsi and Dominic Adriaanse
AN angry and frustrated Deputy Police Minister Maggie Sotyu has lashed out at Khayelitsha’s police top brass for “not prioritising” 19-year-old Sinoxolo Mafevuka’s case after she was raped and killed in a communal toilet more than a week ago.
The investigation into the teenager’s death is going at a snail’s space and more than a week after her death the police have not spoken to her family or offered them any assistance.
It emerged on Thursday that the investigating officer had told the distraught family to report to the Khayelitsha police station.
The Cape Times carried the story of Sinoxolo’s death on Tuesday, March 2.
On Monday, 16-year-old Franziska Blochliger was brutally killed in Tokai Forest. The police acted swiftly, and offered the grieving family counselling.
Three men were detained 36 hours after Franziska’s murder.
The three suspects are due to appear in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court on Friday, on a charge of murder. More charges could be added. A fourth suspect will also make a court appearance on a charge of possession of stolen property.
Her heartbroken parents have offered a reward of R100 000 for information which could lead to the conviction of their daughter’s killers. On Thursday Erin Plante, of Integrity Labs, offered a R50 000 reward for information which would lead to the arrest of Sinoxolo’s killer.
As a storm broke about the stark differences between the way the two cases are being handled, Sotyu held an impromptu meeting with the police and Khayelitsha leaders.
During the heated meeting at Site B police station, Sotyu said it was unfair for the police in the province to pay “special attention” to some cases while ignoring others. “I have decided to call this urgent meeting… particularly on the issue of two girls that were raped and brutally killed, one in Tokai and also in this area, Khayelitsha,” she said.
Sotyu demanded answers about why the police had failed to provide counselling and had not taken statements from the Mafevuka family. Mafevuka’s mother, Nowethu, said she had only seen police officers at the crime scene.
Sotyu told the police that Thursday morning was the first time she and Police Minister Nathi Nhleko had become aware of Mafevuka’s murder after she read the Cape Times, while Franziska was all over the news.
“I saw this article. Before I read it, I was very upset as if I knew what was in the article. The first thing being that it seems the police are focusing on one area, that is Tokai. The police never informed us about the Khayelitsha incident,” she said.
“People are saying ‘why don’t we know about what is happening with Sinoxolo’. What am I expected to do then? I am expected to come to the police so that they can tell the world what is their problem,” Sotyu said.
Police spokesperson Andre Traut also came under fire with Sotyu saying Traut was on TV, giving details about progress in Franziska’s case and the police’s involvement, but there was neither information nor a press briefing about Mafevuka’s murder.
“I have a serious problem with regards to your spokesperson. If it means I have to be dictating, I will dictate to get things right. If a spokesperson decides that he will focus on (a) certain race, I will then have to relieve that spokesperson and appoint a spokesperson who is going to focus on the entire nation.”
Khayelitsha cluster commander Johan Brand said they had two investigators deployed to deal with the case.
He said the police could not stop rapes from happening inside the toilets.
“Minister, it is not true that the case is not receiving attention, that I can guarantee you and the leadership of Khayelitsha. We have got Sergeant Davids and a second investigator Sergeant van Niekerk. They are dealing with the Sinoxolo case. The crime scene, it was done properly,” said Brand.
He said an “informant” had provided them with nicknames of three possible suspects, but this needed to be verified.
“The reason (we) haven’t made an arrest is because we are waiting for the (DNA) to link the possible suspects with the Sinoxolo case. If it comes to a case in Khayelitsha, I give it priority like any other case. I am frustrated,” said Brand.