The girlfriend of Tankiso Esther Tawanyane is living in fear following her partner’s brutal murder – where she was gang-raped, doused with paraffin and set alight in a secluded area close to the railway line near 3 SAI military base on October 7.
THE GIRLFRIEND of Tankiso Esther Tawanyane is living in fear following her partner’s brutal murder – where she was gang-raped, doused with paraffin and set alight in a secluded area close to the railway line near 3 SAI military base on October 7.
A memorial service was held at the Percival Jas Hall yesterday for Tawanyane, who died in hospital on October 8 after sustaining serious injuries.
Tawanyane’s girlfriend indicated that she fears for her safety following the incident.
“We were living in Roodepan and were involved in a relationship for about a year. Judging from the way she was killed and burnt, it could be viewed as a ‘corrective rape’. I left the place where we were staying and have since returned to my parental home because I might be the next target and the perpetrators have not been arrested yet.”
ALSO READ: Gang rape, brutal murder sends shockwaves through city
She explained that she became worried when Twanayane did not arrive home on October 7.
“She was not picking up her phone when I called her at around 10pm and I thought it was perhaps because her battery was flat as she had left her charger at home. She was not on duty – she was employed at Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital as a security guard – on the night of the incident. She went to the location and I was under the impression that she might be sleeping there that night.”
She added that Tawanyane usually made use of public transport as she did not own a car.
“I have no idea what she was doing at the scene of the crime as she never frequents that area. It appears as if she managed to run from the site where she was raped and doused with paraffin before she was set alight.
“She collapsed outside a shanty in Lethabo Park. A resident heard her calling for help and brought her a blanket. She told her that she had been raped by three men and set alight.”
She added that Tawanyane’s Samsung Galaxy A73 cellphone was the only item that was taken from her during the incident.
“The motive could not have been robbery. Her wallet and money were found on the scene and it appears as if she put up a fight with her attackers.”
“I will not be able to rest until all the questions surrounding her death are answered and the suspects are put behind bars. I have been traumatised by her death and will never be the same again. Tawanyane was a peaceful person who was loved by everyone and she did not deserve to die such a cruel death,” she said.
Her mother added that she had accepted Tawanyane as her daughter. “She quickly became a member of our family.”
Meanwhile, Tawanyane’s family are scrambling to find the funds to give her a dignified burial this weekend.
Her uncle, Tshenolo Magonare, stated that Tawanyane was carrying her identity document and it was destroyed when she was set alight.
“We need her identity document to obtain a death certificate and arrange for the funeral, so it is challenging and her funeral policy has lapsed.”
He added that the family were struggling to raise the funds for her funeral.
“Thankfully, we received some assistance from the Speaker at Sol Plaatje Municipality so we will go ahead with the funeral on Saturday at 7am from the house. We will proceed to the cemetery at 9am.”
Tawanyane’s aunt, Kelebogile Mphati, said the family had accepted her sexual orientation and preferences.
“We accepted her for who she was and she was proud of who she was. We do not know what to think was the motive for her murder because anything is possible.”
Residents in Roodepan said they do not feel safe knowing that the suspects had not yet been arrested.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Sergio Kock said the police were “working around the clock” to secure an arrest.
The acting chief prosecutor for the Kimberley cluster, advocate Keageletse Ilanga, added that they would prioritise the matter as soon as an arrest was made.
“Matters involving gender-based violence and femicide are prioritised and we will make sure that this case is speedily dealt with. The case will most likely be prosecuted in the Northern Cape High Court and we will closely monitor progress.”
She added that DNA samples had been taken and sent for analysis.
“We assure the family that we will do everything in our power to ensure that justice is served. We would like to convey our condolences to the family. We have no words for this horrific crime and hope that an arrest will be executed soon.”
