By OBAKENG MAJE
ANC Member of Parliament (MP), Sibusiso Kula will remain in custody until his next court appearance. This comes after the Orkney Magistrate’s Court postponed his murder case until 24 February 2023.
Kula (34) was arrested for allegedly killing his wife, Jennifer Motlhomi (31) at their matrimonial house in Kanana Township, near Orkney on 27 November 2022. However, he was arrested on 20 January 2023 after the police’s preliminary investigations linked him to the murder.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in North West, Henry Mamothame said, they welcome the judgment and hope investigations will be completed speedily for a trial to commence.
Mamothame further said, they will also make an application with the Director of Public Prosecutions in North West at a later stage, for the matter to be transferred to North West High Court due to its serious nature.
“Kula has registered his intention to appeal the judgment. The police report reveals that Kula’s wife was found murdered in what seemed like a robbery. Motlhomi was found with a stab wound on her back, but the object that was used for her alleged murder has not been recovered.
“The matter was reported by the medical facility, where she was allegedly transported by the accused to receive medical attention. Kula told the police that, he was not present at his home when the incident occurred,” he said.
The ANCWL Provincial Task Team (PTT) Convenor, Bitsa Lenkopane said, Motlhomi’s brutal murder depicted another disturbing picture of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) among many women, who are subjected to it in the locale.
“This is another case of women abused, violated, and brutally attacked in the comfort of their living spaces. A complexity painted by one of the police reports in the year, where these vile activities happen among acquaintances and or romantic partners.
“Motlhomi was a vibrant young woman, who spent her entire life participating and leading the struggle structures of the youth and students in the ANC,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Economic Freedom Fighters(EFF) in the North West also welcomed the arrest of Kula.
The EFF provincial secretary, Papiki Babuile said: “We are concerned with the sad state of affairs and rise of patriarchal relations perpetuated by the political elites in the province and the country at large.
“Undisputedly, our country has been through a long history of systematic subjugation, violence, and abuse. Sadly, to date, women and children are yet at the receiving end of heinous and horrific acts.
“These are acts of hetero-patriarchy, sexism, rape, rampant GBV, Femicide, and infanticide, not only by habitual criminals in general but also men tasked with the responsibility to lead, protect and shower them with love.”
Babuile said the high levels of victims in cases of this nature is proof enough that the criminal justice system ceased to exist and protect the vulnerable members of society. He said it is quite dismaying that political elites in this country enjoy impunity at the expense of the lives of the people.
The Guardian 