The report that the Potchefstroom woman who was shot by her ex-husband has died in hospital evokes sadness and bitterness as gender based violence has robbed three more innocent children of the love and care of their parents, North West Thandi Modise said on Wednesday.

The death of Nicolette Du Randt on Monday evening at Garden City Clinic in Johannesburg brings to four people who died when renowned musician Zirk Bergh allegedly shot dead his wife’s ex-husband, a social worker before turning the gun on himself and fatally shooting himself in a tragic incident that has left not only left Potchefstroom but the North West Province and the entire country in shock. The heart-rending episode occurred on Saturday morning.

Premier Modise had earlier condemned the act as a wicked and ghastly act and said that it should challenge for the 365 days campaign to be intensified as it occurred a few days after the closure of the 16 days of activism on no violence against women and children campaign.

Though the Premier has expressed appreciation that Childline had stepped in to provide to trauma debriefing for the children who had witnessed the tragic incident, she is concerned about the deep emotional and psychological scars that it would leave on them.

Modise has called on men who are experiencing pressure in their personal relationships to seek counselling and professional advice instead of resorting to violence, She has called on real men to stand up to be counted in the fight against the scourge of gender based violence which transcends class and race.

According to an earlier media report by Rapoort, Bergh who was supposed to pick up his daughter for a day’s visit reportedly shot and wounded his ex-wife on her back and head, shot 23 –year- old social worker Deon Kondos and proceeded to shoot her husband Dr. Charl du Randt who was waiting with his four year old daughter car an infant in his car.

The incident reportedly occurred outside the Suid-Afrikaanse Vrouefederasie (SAVF) offices in Potchefstroom at around 8:00 am.

“Real men do not to hurt women but protect them against violence. Our prayers are with the mother of the three children who is hospital and the families that lost their loved ones in the tragic incident,” stressed Modise.-TDN
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