As part of commemorating Women’s Month, the speaker of the Council in the City of Joburg Coleen Makhubele and the family of murdered Tshegofatso Pule held a candlelight ceremony in remembrance of her life and that of her unborn child. Tshegofatso was murdered in June 2020 when she was eight months pregnant. Her body was found hanging from a tree with a gunshot wound on her chest in Durban Deep, Roodepoort.

Pule who was eight months pregnant was found hanging from a tree in Durban Deep, the father of her unborn child, Ntuthuko Shoba, was sentenced to life imprisonment for masterminding the murder and has since failed at two attempts to appeal his sentence. His accomplice was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment after making a plea bargain. 

STILL IN MOURNING 

The family’s spokesperson, Tumisang Katake, said the wound still cuts deep. "This is my second time coming to this area, it’s not easy and emotions just pile up as if we heard the news of Tshego’s passing yesterday. I was literally dragged out of bed to come here but I had to look on the bright side," he said. Katake added that he was grateful to the City of Johannesburg for remembering their family although it was initially hard to accept their request. " I understand that we need to keep Tshego and baby Kamano’s spirits alive by celebrating them as heartbreaking as it is. We are still in mourning and miss her very much," he said. 

SISTER’S KEEPER MOVEMENT 

Lebo Moemisi from the Sisters Keeper Movement says she was standing next to the tree with a heavy heart. "I’m reminded of how Tshegofatso was hanging from this tree. If you remember there was a video that circulated of Tshego hanging lifelessly from the branch of this tree. That’s a site I will never forget," she said. Lebo said it was heartbreaking and sad that continuously they are still dealing with cases of violence against women and children."We are not going anywhere as a country, this should not be happening, we don’t want to be reminded of pain and sorrow, we are clearly fighting a losing battle. Let’s go back to God because we have lost our humanity."

SPEAKER OF COUNCIL 

Makhubele reassured Tshegofatso’s family that her visit had nothing to do with politics. "I say this because as politicians we tend to capitalise on people’s pain and seek relevance. She said she cannot begin to imagine what the loss of two lives did to the family. "Your scars are not yours alone, we share them with you. This message is not only for adults but we need to reinforce from schools and tertiary institutions because this is where young men are groomed to be tomorrow’s adults. We need to rebuild the social order in the City and the country as a whole. We have no moral values to stand on, we don’t know who we are," she concluded.