Residents of Folovhodwe village in the Niani area were shocked when news reached them that a 17-year-old local girl, Zwivhuya Miriri, had allegedly been assaulted and killed by her boyfriend.
According to the police spokesperson, Lt Col Maphaswa Seabi, the suspect (Miriri's boyfriend) arrived at the police station on the Sunday morning (20 November) and reported that he and his girlfriend had been fighting and that he needed the police to intervene. He told the police that he had left his girlfriend sleeping at his house. When the police arrived at the house, they found the girl in bed, covered with a duvet. Miriri was unresponsive when they tried to talk to her. On closer inspection, the police found bruises all over her body. She also had head wounds. The paramedics were summoned to the scene. Upon arrival, they certified her as dead.
The boyfriend, Pfananani Goma (20), was arrested and charged with murder. According to information made available by the Miriri family, Goma confessed to killing the young girl the night before (Saturday, 19 November) during an argument. He appeared in the Tshilamba Magistrate's Court on Monday, 21 November. His case was postponed to 16 January 2023 for a bail application.
Miriri's older sister, Ms Vidah Miriri, told the media that the couple had often argued, and that the family members were mourning her sister's death.
The chairperson of the Real Men Foundation, Mr Calvin Nenguza, expressed his concern about the rise in cases of domestic violence. "In love, we are not called to tolerate each other's abusive behaviour, but to love each other instead. The only way to end domestic violence is to address both sexes to bring the spirit of vhuthu (humanity) back into our communities. Women and child abuse is a serious, real problem in our communities and each one of us must vouch to never become part of the problem, only the solution," he said.
The police urged community members to consult or engage third parties, such as elders and counsellors, when they find themselves faced with problems, to avoid incidents where violence starts to occur.