Woman found cut in half on the roadside to be remembered ahead of Women’s Day

Slain Nkosingiphile Mazibuko,27, was particularly close to her one-year-old niece Sthokozile Bhengu

Slain Nkosingiphile Mazibuko,27, was particularly close to her one-year-old niece Sthokozile Bhengu

Published Aug 8, 2022

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Durban — More than a year after the body of a KwaDabeka woman was found cut in half on the side of the road not far from her home, KwaZulu-Natal police are still investigating with no arrest having been made.

At the beginning of April last year the body of 27-year-old Nkosingiphile Mazibuko was found on the side of KwaDabeka’s main road, Khululeka Drive, two days after she was reported missing.

Her body was found a day after police released her boyfriend after questioning him.

At the time of her killing her parents, Mfanafuthi (who is now deceased) and Nokuthula Mazibuko hoped that the DNA lead police had would yield positive results in the investigation and the family would see justice.

When the Daily News visited the family it was told the version of events was that the boyfriend had allegedly told them Nkosingiphile had been stabbed in Clermont, but he could not answer who had told him this.

The family then saw him a day later, boarding a vehicle. He allegedly saw them and dropped the clothes he was carrying and jumped into the vehicle which sped off. They alleged that among these clothes were his T-shirt and jeans covered in blood, as well as Mazibuko’s bloodied jeans. All the clothes were handed over to police.

At the time a spokesperson said details of the investigation, including whether there was DNA, could not be divulged.

On Sunday police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Nqobile Gwala said: “KwaDabeka SAPS is still investigating the matter. No arrests made.”

The now-late Mfanafuthi Mazibuko pictured is with his wife Nokuthula Mazibuko soon after the funeral of their murdered daughter Nkosingiphile Mazibuko. Picture: NQOBILE MBONAMBI Africannewsagency(ANA)

Nkosingiphile will on Monday be remembered in a wreath-laying ceremony led by the DA West Durban constituency ahead of Women’s Day.

“The DA will also use this opportunity to visit the family of the late Nkosingiphile following the recent passing away of her dad. He sadly died without ever getting closure for his daughter's brutal killing as the police have to date failed to make any arrest,” said Mzamo Billy, the West Durban constituency chairperson.

Billy and constituency leader, Martin Meyer MPL, along with DA councillors and the community will lay a wreath to remember Nkosingiphile and highlight the scourge of ongoing gender-based violence in South Africa.

Last week in Umgababa, a 42-year-old woman who was eight months pregnant had an argument with a known suspect who stabbed her.

According to police, the house the victim was in was set alight, including the vehicle that was parked in a garage.

A 24-year-old suspect was arrested after he tried to stab himself. The suspect is believed to be the woman’s son.

KwaZulu-Natal Department of Social Development spokesperson Mhlaba Memela said it was disturbing that every time Women’s Month was celebrated more cases of gender-based violence were encountered.

“It’s shocking that we have to bare this bad news all the time. We are living in a country where these criminals believe they have a monopoly over the lives of women.

“It’s imperative that as a society we come together to end the scourge. We need to work together as a society to continue educating our communities about these horrible incidences. It’s very disturbing that some women tolerate abuse from people who claim to love them.”

Daily News