The local Unemployed People’s Movement (UPM) has reacted angrily to news of the death of a young woman who was viciously attacked in Fingo Village in January.
The local Unemployed People’s Movement (UPM) has reacted angrily to news of the death of a young woman who was viciously attacked in Fingo Village in January.
Thandiswa Qubuda died at Settlers’ Hospital on Thursday after being brain dead for weeks.
Police arrested two car guards after Qubuda’s brutal attack in January.
The pair were initially charged with rape and attempted murder but the rape charges were withdrawn due to lack of evidence.
Despite the state withdrawing the rape charge against the two men, UPM members still insist that the young woman was raped.
In a statement the movement claims that Qubuda “had spent six weeks in hospital, brain dead, after she was savagely raped and beaten”.
“We ask ourselves why her story, such a painful [one], is not getting media coverage and creating an uproar. The lives of poor people count for nothing in this country. There is no democracy for us,” the statement reads.
The two men aged 19 and 20 were released from custody on warning during their bail application on 29 January, despite the fact that Fingo Village residents had submitted a petition urging the magistrate not to grant them bail.
Grocott’s Mail reported that during their bail application investigating officer John Manzana told the court he couldn’t oppose the bail application because there was not enough evidence against the men.
Explaining why the two men were suspects in the case, Manzana said the circumstantial evidence in his docket indicated that both of them were seen walking with the victim and entered the place where she was later found.
Manzana said the investigation was not yet complete because besides outstanding statements from other witnesses, the victim was still unconscious as a result of the attack and could not give a statement.
He said there was also the possibility of a DNA test.
State prosecutor Asanda Koliti said the state had provisionally withdrawn the rape charge because they had not received confirmation that the woman had indeed been raped.
The case was postponed to 25 March with the men facing attempted murder charges and possible counts of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
The two men didn’t testify during the bail application, but submitted written affidavits as evidence through their legal aid attorney.
They said before their arrests on 19 January they had been employed as car guards.
Manzana confirmed that neither had previous convictions, arrest warrants or pending cases against them.
Both indicated that they intended to plead not guilty.
The men were released on warning on condition that they did not try to communicate with the witnesses and to report to the police station on stipulated days once a week, starting after the bail hearing.
UPM has organised a memorial service for Qubuda on Thursday at the BB Zondani hall at 4pm.
The ANC Women’s League has organised a march to the National Prosecuting Authority building to voice their dissatisfaction towards violence against women, children and elderly people.
Makana sub-regional convenor Nosipho Kulati said the march will start at 9am on Wednesday.
Police spokesperson Captain Mali Govender confirmed that the charges against the two men will be changed to murder.
