She was killed for her

"She was in an abusive relationship and she decided to terminate it. She was, however, killed for taking this bold step."

These were the chilling words from the deceased’s older sister, Tsumbedzo Raliphada, when she addressed mourners during the burial of Glenda Radzilani at Madombidzha village on Sunday morning.

Tsumbedzo gave a disturbing, heart-wrenching testimony of the alleged abuse of Glenda by her 25-year-old boyfriend, Tshimangadzo Rasiluma, which continued for several years. “He had beaten her many times before, and she even sought a protection order against him, but she always forgave him,” Tsumbedzo said. “My sister had a golden heart and she was surely killed for being good.”

The 22-year-old Glenda was brutally killed on 31 July inside her bedroom at her home. Rasiluma allegedly confronted her while she wanted to board a bus to work, and dragged her back to her home. “He slapped her, used all kindds of crockery to smash her face and head, and stabbed her many times in the face, breasts and other areas of her body,” Tsumbedzo told the mourners, who also wept. “There are a lot of stories about my sister’s death out there, and those stories form part of a big lie.”

During the memorial service on Saturday evening, different organisations and speakers paid homage to Glenda’s memory and warned women to walk out of abusive relationships. Munna Ndi Nnyi’s Bardwell Mufunwaini said that what the suspect had done was to put the name of all men to shame. “He muddied our name as men,” he said. “Men are not cruel – there are good, loving fathers out there, who take good care of their wives and children.”

Rinae Sengani Foundation’s Rinae Sengani and the Vhembe Pastors Forum’s Pastor TP Ramahala said the organisations would march to court and hand in a memo stating that the suspect should be denied bail. “We urge all residents here in Vhembe to stand together and fight abuse,” Rinae said. “We want to believe that people here in Madombidzha saw the suspect dragging Glenda. They heard her cries for help, but what did you do to help her?”

Glenda’s friend, Mpho Mutepe, described the deceased as a person who was full of love, respect and life. “I am left with nobody to confide in,” she wept.

The deceased had a four-year-old son with the suspect. Rasiluma will appear in the Tshilwavhusiku Magistrate’s Court on 14 August.

News - Date: 13 August 2017

Tshifhiwa Mukwevho

Tshifhiwa Given Mukwevho was born in 1984 in Madombidzha village, not far from Louis Trichardt in the Limpopo Province. After submitting articles for roughly a year for Limpopo Mirror's youth supplement, Makoya, he started writing for the main newspaper. He is a prolific writer who published his first book, titled A Traumatic Revenge in 2011. It focusses on life on the street and how to survive amidst poverty. His second book titled The Violent Gestures of Life was published in 2014.

Email: [email protected]