Ms Thandi Nontenja
The United Democratic Movement Women’s Organisation (UDEMWO) is utterly disturbed by the decision of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to provisionally withdraw charges against the four apprehended in the Hillary Gardee kidnaping and murder case, which the trial was set to start today at the Mpumalanga Division of the High Court in Mbombela.
The term used around the world that South Africa is a “rape capital of the world” is becoming a reality. The Hillary Gardee provisional withdrawal says a lot to a country whose women are endangered species, Criminals know they have the upper hand in this country.
The state has really failed the Gardee family and the victims of Gender-based violence. Whenever there’s an uproar, in order to distract and stop the country from talking, they make misguided arrests and later withdraw those charges.
What happened to the witnesses on this particular case? UDEMWO hopes that provisional will be as short as possible and not turn out to be another justice denied. The nation’s trust on our justice system is wearing thin on a daily basis, as it favours criminals at the expense of the victims.
Issued by:
Ms Thandi Nontenja
UDEMWO Secretary General
