LETTER: Justice for Mandy Bailey must send a message

Dear Sir,

The Nehawu Frances Baard Gender Committee welcomes the outcome of the recent judgment in the Mandy Bailey murder case. While no ruling can ever bring back our colleague and comrade, we hope that this verdict will finally give her family some measure of closure.

As the country continues to grapple with the crisis of gender-based violence and femicide — and with Friday’s “Total Shutdown” against GBVF and the historic declaration of GBVF as a national disaster — we call on the court, when sentencing is handed down, to send out a clear and uncompromising message. A harsher sentence is not only justified, but necessary.

We are deeply concerned that the accused showed no remorse throughout the trial, pleading not guilty despite the horrific circumstances of the crime. Killing a mother in front of her young child is an act that no community should ever have to accept, and the emotional scars left on that child will last a lifetime.

It is time for our government to stand firmly with women and children and to ensure that perpetrators of GBVF are held fully accountable. Those who commit such violence must do better – and be better – than what we have witnessed in this case.

Yours sincerely,

Tumi Majola

National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union Frances Baard Gender Co-ordinator

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