PARENTS, pupils and residents have demanded justice for Palesa Malatji.
They want the suspect(s) behind the death of the grade 12 pupil from Ntsako Secondary School in Soshanguve, Tshwane to be arrested.
It's believed Palesa left her school after attending extra classes but didn't make it home.
The 17-year-old was found murdered and sexually violated next to Echibini Secondary School in Soshanguve on Friday, 26 May after she went missing on 25 May.
Her uncle, Thabiso Malatji (35), said the family was shocked and heartbroken about the incident especially her mum, Thembi Malatji (37) from Soshanguve block HH, who couldn't even talk.
"We are living in a broken society, where people don't value the life of a person. The SAPS failed us. We could have found Palesa while she was still alive," he said.
Resident Banele Moyo said: "We need security that goes with extra classes because it benefits the community."
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He said Palesa's life was taken too easily. "We need the bushes and grass to be cut. We also need lights because it's very bad in the area," he said. He also said they needed more police visibility.
The Gauteng secretary of the Congress of South African Students (Cosas), Boipelo Moleko, said: "This is devastating. This is a painful thing. We want to apply pressure on police regarding the incident."
Gauteng MEC for Education Matome Chiloane visited the school, addressed pupils and later visited the family. He said what happened showed that the perpetrators were heartless. He also said that as a society they needed to make sure children and pupils were protected.
"We were together with the family and law enforcers. I said to them this case must be cracked very quickly," he said.
"Palesa is not just a number to us. She was the future of this country. She was doing maths and science and a high-performing learner," he said.
Chiloane said that from now onwards they needed to find a way to ensure they provided transport, especially for matriculants.
"This must never happen again under our watch," he said.
Gauteng police spokeswoman Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said a case of murder was opened and they have no arrests yet.
"The police are investigating and following up on any leads they receive," she said.
Nevhuhulwi said appealed to anyone who may have information that could assist them with the investigation to contact their nearest police station or the CrimeStop line at 08600 10111 and anonymous tip-offs can also be reported on My SAPS app.
