Durban — An uMthwalume man handed himself to police days after his girlfriend’s body was found in Esiqungeni last week.
The suspect, 29, appeared before the Umzumbe Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.
Mandisa Cele’s body was found last week Saturday.
The 21-year-old’s family said that they are still in shock after they found her body with assault marks and her face black and blue.
Her uncle, Mzwandile Dlungele, said that he received a call on Saturday at about 5pm from his cousin informing him of the incident.
He said that when he arrived at the rental room his niece was in, he saw blood on the floor from outside the room.
He said from the condition of her face and body, they could tell that she had been dead for some time.
Dlungele said that she leaves behind her 3-year-old daughter.
He also described the relationship between his niece and her boyfriend abusive.
“Last year, in December, she called me to help her move out of the room after he hit her. When I arrived there I found the window’s glass shattered,” he said.
He said that after some time he learnt that he had gone to ask her to return to his place, to which she agreed.
Dlungele said that the family is trying to raise money for the funeral.
“We went to his house to inform them of what happened. At that time he had been missing. We also informed them that we did not have enough money for her burial and asked them to assist us. They told us that they would get back to us after they had a family meeting on Thursday evening,” he said.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said the suspect had handed himself over to police on Tuesday.
Nombuso Sibisi from the Organization Women of Umthwalume (GBV) said they are still shocked by this incident.
She said that the killing of women and children has become a norm in uMthwalume.
She also said these incidents are crippling the society.
“I wish that women heed this warning, and love themselves before they love someone else. They should also leave abusive relationships and not be afraid of what people will say because their relationship ended,” she said.
Sibisi said that the end of femicide also lies in women’s hands.
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Daily News