Cape Town - Eleven days before a Masiphumelele mother was stabbed to death by her husband in 2013, she told police she feared for her safety.
But Zuziwe Gobelo’s cries for help were not answered, and like many South African women who have been abused or killed by their partners, she left young children behind, in her case, two.The Western Cape High Court heard convicted killer, Bongani Dodo, was so conniving that when he stabbed his wife repeatedly in front of her brother and sister, he turned the knife on himself in an attempt to convince the court he had defended himself during an assault.
He was sentenced to 15 years for murder while his children, aged 10 and 11, will face a lifetime without their mother.
Director of the Saartjie Baartman Centre, Shaheema McLeod, said on an average day at least three women will die at the hands of their intimate partner.
Domestic violence can include sexual abuse, stalking, economic abuse, controlling behaviour or emotional and physical abuse.
The centre deals with at least 10 to 15 cases of domestic violence a day. Over the past few years, the organisation has seen a 65 percent increase in the number of women and children seeking their services – which include short and long-term accommodation, legal assistance, skills training and counselling for adults and children.
The rise of societal violence was reflected in this year’s national murder rate, which has increased by 4.9 percent, with most crimes being committed indoors.
The death of Gobelo brings to light the importance of taking protection orders seriously, McLeod said. “Clients at the centre often feel like their plight has fallen on deaf ears, with some reported incidences of abuse being ignored by the police.
Our clients feel incredibly vulnerable and unsafe. We have had cases where the police don’t arrive to check the safety of victims, even though a call for help has been made,” said McLeod.
Although Gobelo had reported a domestic violence incident on December 15, 2013 when her husband broke into her mother’s house to beat and stab her, police had claimed they could not locate Dodo so that he could be arrested.
Police spokesman Andre Traut said police were supposed to arrest an abuser who perpetrated violence immediately – and without a warrant – and also search the premises to seize any dangerous weapons.
Traut said the station commissioner would take disciplinary steps against the member involved.
The police service will also refer the complaint to the Civilian Secretariat for Police Service for their recommendations.