Johannesburg - ThembisileYende, who was murdered and her body dumped and locked in her company office, was one of 68 women killed in Gauteng in the past eight weeks.
This chilling femicide statistic was revealed by Community Safety MEC Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane during Yende’s funeral in Kwa-Thema, Springs, in Ekurhuleni on Saturday.
Yende’s body was discovered in her locked office on May 29, after she had been reported missing 12 days earlier.
The gruesome discovery was made after her colleagues at Eskom, where she worked as a technician, smelt a strong odour coming from the corridors of a substation.
Energy Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi and Eskom board members, including chairperson Ben Ngubane, were among these who converged at a local community hall to pay their last respects to Yende.
Zwelinzima Vavi, the general-secretary of the recently formed SA Federation of Trade Unions, was also among the mourners.
Farewell comrade #ThembisileYende pic.twitter.com/TBvisn4qHX
— NUMSA (@Numsa_Media) June 4, 2017
Yende’s coffin was not placed in the hall during the funeral service due to the condition of her body, but mourners later took it to Vlakfontein cemetery. Nkosi-Malobane shocked the mourners when she gave graphic details related to the spike in attacks on helpless women in Gauteng.
“About 68 women in Gauteng were killed by men in the past eight weeks, and these are people who were supposed to protect women.
"We are asking men, particularly young men, why do you allow this to happen?” the MEC asked.
“Others use culture to abuse women. Why do you abuse us? Why do you think you own us?
“We grow our children in a country which sees violence as a solution to solve problems.
"Everything we speak is anger. The question is why are we angry as a nation? Let’s stop it!”
Ngubane apologised to the Yende family for the manner in which their daughter was killed and that her body was left in her own office.
“I am sitting here on behalf of Eskom to express remorse for the death of a promising young woman.
"She was very dedicated and was on the verge of being promoted to a higher position because of her intelligence and dedication.
“We are sorry that she was assaulted and killed on our premises, but let’s leave that to the police. Eskom will do everything possible to assist in the investigations,” Ngubane said.
Vavi, however, blamed Eskom for Yende’s death, saying the power utility had refused to listen to the National Union of Metalworkers of SA's plea that employees in the substation should work in pairs.
“They withdrew security and the cameras were not working when this fatal incident took place.
"They and the police took an unforgivably long time to follow up on the report that Yende was missing,” he said.
Vavi said the federation would support Numsa’s demand for an investigation into Yende’s death so “we can know exactly what happened, who was responsible and what must now be done to prevent any similar fatalities.
“ At least some good can come of this tragedy if Eskom management are forced to prioritise the safety of their staff instead of lining their pockets through corrupt deals,” he said.
Kubayi urged the police to find the culprits. “This is embarrassing because we spend most of our time at work where we are supposed to be safe. But we promise this will never happen to anyone again.
“No parents deserve to bury their children who were killed like that. Those monsters are going to be found, and I hope the family find closure,” Kubai said.
Yende’s friend, Zandile Mabuza, was overcome with emotion when she shared the fond moments she had had with Yende. “She was strong and her death came as a shock to me. She would smile and laugh even when she was hurt.
"And I have learnt from her that you should be happy even when you are in pain. She added value to everyone who was close to her,” Mabuza said.During the funeral, residents displayed placards with messages such as “stop killing our women and children” and ANC members wore T-shirts displaying a picture of Yende’s face.