THE Azanian People's Organisations (Azapo) see the numerous abductions and killings of women and children in Bloemfontein, Free State, as a continuation of the indirect genocide by the apartheid government.
Azapo said that for the past 30 years of democracy in Mzansi, there is political freedom without physical autonomy and there's no freedom for women and children.
In an interview with Daily Sun on Thursday, 28 December, Azapo deputy president Kekeletso Khena said black women live in fear every day.
Khena was referring to the recent incidents in which three women were murdered on Christmas night in Caleb Motshabi, Bloemfontein.
In the first incident, police investigations led to a pit toilet where they made the gruesome discovery of the body of a 34-year-old woman, identified as Sinah Bantjies. She was wrapped in tape and covered in mud.
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In the second incident, police discovered the bodies of two women, aged 91 and 66, on the bed. It's alleged that their neighbour was the first to notice the absent 66-year-old when she was in the yard.
Police spokesman Sergeant Mahlomola Kareli said preliminary post-mortem results revealed that the two deceased were Sarah Sentlholo (91), who died of poisoning, and her 66-year-old daughter Rebecca Moyetsane, who was strangled to death.
A 43-year-old man who had fled from the crime scene was tracked down and arrested in Botshabelo.
He is expected to appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court soon, facing murder charges.
Khena said she was not surprised that the number of murders of women is increasing.
"Until the incompetent state implements programmes that restore law and order in society, we can only rely on community vigilance and community-based interventions. We are currently rolling out our flagship Kasi to Kasi programme to reduce gender-based violence and femicide, as well as guns for the Safe Zone programme, where we work with communities to develop tailored safety strategies that leverage the resources already available in the community.
"This programme also includes outreach programmes, safe houses and a telephone outreach programme managed by our pre-trained AZASCO students from various disciplines to provide immediate support, counselling and referral," Khena said.
She emphasised that Azapo is a grassroots organisation based on the principles of black consciousness, which is about self-love, self-reliance and love for other black people.
"This programme expresses exactly that: black communities are on their own and cannot expect the uncaring ANC government to ensure their safety," said Khena.
"These two programmes will be extended to other hotspots that we continue to identify. A number of townships in the Free State will be at the forefront of the programmes in 2024."
