WC Community Safety MEC calls on SAPS, IPID, to ensure that Picketberg suspects face full might of the law

The Western Cape’s Community Safety MEC, Albert Fritz, visited the family of Natasha Booise who was allegedly gunned down by her boyfriend, on 2 January.

According to reports, Booise was gunned down by the suspect while she was walking in Piketberg with family and friends, including her nine-year-old son who had witnessed her killing.

The suspect, an off-duty police officer, is presently in custody on charges of murder, attempted murder and discharging a firearm in a public area.

IPID is probing the matter. The suspect is set to apply for bail on 13 January.

Furthermore, the MEC also visited the family of a nine-year-old girl who was raped by a 29-year-old suspect.

The suspect allegedly raped the nine-year-old victim on a farm outside Piketberg on Christmas Eve.

Fritz has called on SAPS, including IPID, to ensure that the suspects in these cases face the full might of the law.

“The news of what these victims, and the broader community of Piketberg, have had to go through over the festive season, comes as a cold reminder of the reality of gender-based violence under which many of the women and children in our communities have to live.’’

‘’We make this call on the SAPS, including IPID, to ensure that the suspects in these cases face the full might of the law, so that justice is served and the message that there are consequences for actions is sent out and heard by all would-be criminals. We will never accept the actions of these monsters as a normal part of our society. As a society, we are outraged, and we reject their behaviour,” Fritz added.

Fritz condemned the incident and has called on communities to stand together to prevent such heinous crimes

‘’These two cases specifically show the kind of trauma exacted upon our young children. Ms. Booise’s young son witnessed his mother being gunned down in broad daylight. And in the other case: the trauma of being raped at the age of nine. That little girl is starting Grade 3 this year. We fight for them. We fight for our children, so that they can have a healthy childhood and upbringing. We must work towards families and communities in which our children are safe. We must stand together for our children.”

 

Done By: Mitchum George