WC govt promises justice after murder of GBV activist

The government has expressed outrage after a woman who worked to fight the scourge of gender-based violence was killed, allegedly at the hands of her partner.

Jacquelene Mpontsana died after being doused with petrol and set alight during a domestic dispute earlier this week.

The 40-year-old Gugulethu woman had apparently reunited with her boyfriend shortly before the attack.

Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) Western Cape director Geraldine Thopps said this crime was particularly concerning and tragic because Mpontsana was at the forefront of the fight against gender-based violence and femicide.

Mpontsana was responsible for inspecting SAPS stations for their compliance to assist victims of gender-based violence.

She was first appointed in the Western Cape Department of Community Safety in 2005 and had since performed a number of different roles.

Community Safety MEC Albert Fritz said staff members had been left reeling following the murder of Jacque, as she was fondly known.

He said in Jacque’s honour, they were going to ensure the perpetrator of this crime was brought to justice.

-EWN

In other news – Zandie Khumalo on welcoming her first child

She kept her pregnancy a secret up until a few weeks before she was due to give birth. Singer and songwriter Zandie Khumalo-Gumede eventually opened up about her baby bump through an Instagram post on her page.

“A journey that is exciting and very scary at the same time but worth it, I wanna thank God for lesibusiso esisendleleni (the blessing that is on the way). I’m eight months in today and I can’t believe it’s almost time. We can’t wait to meet u Zenala ka mama [sic],” she wrote at the time. Learn More