The arrest of a 20-year-old woman from Vhufuli Khofhe after the death of her husband last weekend has elicited yet more controversy around gender-based violence, and with women being made out to be the only victims to be protected against this offence.

According to the acting spokesperson of the Vhembe SAPS, Sergeant Vuledzani Dathi, the police in Thohoyandou had received reports on Sunday night from the casualty ward at the Donald Fraser hospital about a man who was brought in with multiple stab wounds and bleeding heavily and who had died.

“The members who received the call proceeded to the hospital and found an African male lying on his back in the hospital. He was half naked and already dead. It is alleged that the deceased was stabbed with a sharp object on the left side of his chest. The girlfriend [sic] is suspected, as the couple allegedly had an argument at a sorghum beer (halwa ha mahafhe) drinking spot at Vhufuli Khofhe village, owned by Vuledzani Muruge and run from his homestead,” said Dathi.

The deceased was identified as Lucky Gota (26). His wife, Thuso Netshilema, was arrested shortly afterwards and appeared in the Thohoyandou Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, 6 December.

According to the chairperson of the SANCO branch at Vhufuli, Miss Shonisani Grace Netshiavhela, Gota was an active member of their SANCO branch. She said, however, that he had been attacked at his home and not at a tavern as had been reported. She also said that he had suffered at the hands of Netshilema for a long time.

“SANCO members visited Gota’s family on Tuesday morning to send their condolences and was told that the incident happened at home. He was allegedly stabbed at the house and tried to run away, calling for help. He fell outside the house and died on the spot. Neighbours heard him screaming, but when they arrived, it was too late,” she said.

She added that the couple had a history of fighting for a very long time. “She [Netshilema] once burnt him with hot water, after which he spent weeks admitted at the Donald Fraser Hospital. There was no peace in that family,” she said.

She is calling on all couples with marital problems to consult social workers to get help. She added that Gota had been a dedicated member of SANCO and would be dearly missed by his fellow activists. “May his soul rest in peace,” she said.

Gota is survived by his two children, wife and parents.

The suspect, Thuso Netshilema, appeared in the Thohoyandou Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday. Magistrate Maluleke postponed the case to 14 December for further police investigation and for her to get her own legal representation. She was not asked to plead and was remanded in custody until her next appearance.

The Thulamela sub-region of the SA National Civics Organisation (Sanco) also expressed their shock about the incident. Benny Phosewa, the regional secretary of the sub-region, said that Gota would be buried on Saturday (10^th) at Vhufuli Khofhe. “We are requesting all of our branches to come out in numbers and support the family,” he said.