Seeking Justice: A Resilience Voice For Closure and Healing
Jane Mhlongo from Soweto is yearning for justice and closure on her daughter’s death which occurred under suspicious circumstances.
Sis’ Mantoa, my world was shattered on January 21st, 2018, when my daughter, Zanale, passed away. She was in a relationship and had a baby with her partner. The family members of Zanale’s partner despised her to the extent they even threatened me that someday, I would regret not reprimanding my daughter to stop visiting their home. On the 21st of January 2018, I received a call from one of my daughter’s partner’s family members, urging me to come quickly. I rushed to their home and, to my disbelief, I found my daughter’s lifeless body lying cold on the floor. Tears streamed down on my face uncontrollably. I stuttered as I asked for details about what had happened.
An eyewitness told me that she had eaten food from the lunchbox given to her by the family. She ate, and shortly after, she collapsed. An ambulance was called, and upon the paramedics’ arrival, she was declared dead. A Forensic expert was also called to the scene. He confirmed that my daughter had died from poisoning after taking a sample of the white foam that came out from her mouth. However, the forensic expert did not confirm the type of poison in the food she had eaten. He advised further tests should be conducted in the laboratory.
I called the Hearse to collect my daughter’s body. Sis’ Mantoa, I suspected she was poisoned by food. I say this because Zanale’s partner’s family sells rat poison (Alparine), and they had threatened me before. Since the incident, I have struggled to sleep. I cry most nights yearning for Closure and Justice. What worsens my pain, I was left to raise Zanele’s eight-month-old child. Today, her child has turned 7-years old, serving as a constant reminder of my daughter
What resources or support systems were instrumental in your journey?
Sis’Mantoa, I went to the clinic seeking counselling, but each time I arrived, I would be turned home citing that the person conducting counselling sessions was unavailable. Even when I made an appointment, I was still told the same story. As I was unemployed and financially drained to the point that I could not borrow the taxi fare anymore. I was forced to give up on seeking healing, and to this day, I remain emotionally bruised.
Have you encountered any challenges in seeking justice?
I went to Moroka police station to press charges against the family, yet six years later, no one has come to my house to investigate and ascertain the facts of my daughter’s death. I often went to Moroka police station to inquire about the status of my case. To my shock, there was no physical docket; however, it was only in their system. At the police station, I was further informed that the police officer assigned to follow up my case was transferred to Limpopo.
To my surprise, I encountered the same police officer at Dobsonville Police Station when I accompanied my sister to press charges. This made me feel deceived by Moroka Police Station. I returned to Moroka Police station, requesting that they appoint another officer to investigate my case. The woman police officer shouted, “You are an irritant! I did not kill your daughter, nor did the police officer you saw at Dobsonville.”
I escalated my case to the Station Commander, who promised to take the matter seriously. Until today, nothing had been done, not even the Station Commander, who promised justice to my case. I further sought assistance from Braamfontein Provincial SAPS, but in vain. It seems no one wants to investigate my daughter’s death. I returned once again to Moroka Police station, this time demanding the full results of my daughter’s post-mortem.
To my disbelief, I was informed that the police officer I saw at Dobsonville had signed them out, pretending to investigate the case. Yet, each time I check the status of my case, it remains on the system with no one actively investigating.
I began doing laundry and ironing for the community. With the money I earned from piece jobs, I saved up and enrolled in a Baking and Catering Course. After passing, I was awarded a certificate in baking and cooking. Using my savings, I bought two stoves to start my small business Motsumi’s Kitchen fast food. Additionally, I offer cooking and catering services.
In your opinion, are there any specific changes or initiatives you would like to see implemented within the justice system?
Police Officers should be patient with us. They should understand our pain because they themselves have children, and someday, they will also experience the senseless death of their children. Moreover, they must arrest the alleged suspect and be tested in the Courts of Law. This is the only way to serve.
Recommendation
Sis’ Mantoa referred Jane Mhlongo for therapy to Nthabiseng Mashaba, a Social Worker at GBV Command Center. On publishing, the client stated that the Social worker had indeed eased her anguish.
- Case No: 445/01/2018
- OB No: 1859/01/20
- Police station: Moroka (Soweto)
