In 2018, Ayanda Simelane, from KwaThema in Gauteng, was hacked to death and her alleged killer was due to appear in court a month ago.
Sonke said that, after two years of investigation, Simelane's mother was informed of the trial date. Further, a police official had visited her residence to remind her about the hearing.“On the date of trial, when they arrived at court the relatives of the deceased were informed that the matter was being withdrawn. Initially the family was informed the matter had been dismissed.
Sonke in a statement questioned why the matter was set down for trial, saying that this should only happen when the state was aware of the strength of its case. “At what point did the prosecutor come to the realisation that the case, which had been set down for trial, was no longer trial ready and opt to change course, and only thought the family should be notified on the morning of the trial?
“This incompetence makes a mockery of the president’s [Cyril Ramaphosa] commitment to address GBVF [gender-based violence and femicide] with specific mention of plans to address the issues faced on access to justice for victims and survivors, which were specifically identified a key area both in the Emergency Response Action Plan and the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide,” Sonke said.
Sonke wants the NPA to investigate what happened in this case, and called for the prosecutor to account on the matter.
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