The family of a woman who was run over by her boyfriend and killed instantly outside her parent's home last December says they are slowly losing hope on getting justice for her. First, the suspect Laurence Tleane who is also a lawyer was granted a R1000 bail, the amount her family feels was too little for a murder suspect. A few months after during his court appearance on Monday, the magistrate provisionally withdrew the case after it was reported that the docket was missing.

LOSING HOPE

The murdered woman, Tumi Seshuene's sister Dimakatso from Lesedi Park, outside Polokwane ,says they started losing hope when the boyfriend was given bail.         "We told ourselves that if he can be made to pay that little for the bail, anything was possible. Then they kept postponing the matter until the magistrate said the case was being withdrawn because the case was not on the roll,' Dimakatso said. She added that when the magistrate said the case was withdrawn the family thought it was over and that they would never get justice for her sister. "My sister will never come back but our wish is for the person who cut her life short to at least pay for it,' she said.

KILLED IN COLD BLOOD

Tumi was only 23 when she was allegedly killed by her boyfriend after a heated argument, days before Christmas last year. Her older sister said that it was just after midnight when she heard people arguing outside their family home. "I was not even aware that my sister was outside the house. I immediately recognised Tumi's voice and decided to go and bring her back inside,' she said.But before she could open the door, she heard a banging sound and Tumi screaming in panic. She immediately ran outside and saw the boyfriend driving off. Her sister's lifeless body was lying in the pool of blood. Dimakatso said she didn't even know the suspect and that he was dating her sister.

NPA CLARIFIES THE MATTER

Limpopo regional spokesperson for NPA Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi said the murder docket was never lost. "The docket was with the Deputy Director's office for a directive as it is a norm with all Gender-Based Violence cases to make sure that all information required to build the case is gathered,' Malabi-Dzhangi said. She added that the case will be reinstated and that the Deputy Director's office will make a decision on which court the case will be heard at going forward .

DISAPPOINTED

Lentswe LaKa Foundation, an NGO that helps families of Gender Based Violence victims said they were disappointed by the manner in which the case is being handled. Lentswe spokesperson Malebeko Sadiki said they believe the justice system continues to fail victims of GBVF and their families. "We are of the view that the presiding Magistrate was quick to provisionally withdraw the case. But we can confirm that the docket is now with the Director of Prosecutors. The docket was handed to the Director on Tuesday morning," Sadiki said. The organisation has given the Director of Public Prosecutions until Friday to ensure that proper procedures are followed and that the suspect is summoned back to court.