Gauteng MEC for Finance and Acting Gauteng Premier Lebogang Maile has called for perpetrators of GBV to have no chance of bail and face harsher and longer sentences. Maile made these remarks outside the Protea Magistrates Court in Soweto, where Mandla Buthelezi, a police officer from Eldorado Park, appeared today, facing charges for the murder of his girlfriend, Chesnsy Keppler, who served as a crime prevention warden.
DEAL WITH THEM HARSHLY
Buthelezi faces allegations of shooting and killing 22-year-old Keppler following a domestic altercation on Boxing Day. After this tragic event, Buthelezi attempted suicide by shooting himself but survived and was subsequently hospitalised under police supervision until his discharge. Maile emphasised the need to practice what he preaches and be at the forefront of fighting GBV. Maile said, "I am here because we made a call that men should be at the forefront of the fight against gender-based violence. In most cases, it is men who are at the forefront of such incidents. We must demonstrate through our actions that indeed those of us who are responsible, law-abiding citizens who respect women understand that there is no freedom until women and children are safe and not subjected to violence," he said. He added that the fight against GBV needs to be heightened through amending the law. "The law can achieve three things: there should be no bail for perpetrators, the second thing is that victims must not be allowed to withdraw cases, and thirdly, it's to make sure that the harshest and longest sentences must be given to perpetrators of GBV," he added.
CASE POSTPONED
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) confirmed the appearance of their member and said the matter was postponed to the 26th of February. IPID's Lizzy Suping said, "The court case against the Eldorado Park SAPS member, accused of killing his 22-year-old girlfriend, has been postponed to 26 February 2025. The Protea Magistrate's Court postponed the matter to allow for further investigation," said Shuping.
