I write this letter with a heavy heart and deep anger as a resident of Kokstad, as a son of this soil, and as the Pan Africanist Congress Mayoral Candidate for Greater Kokstad.
In the last two months, our community has been shaken by reports of brutal murders of women and children in Greater Kokstad. Community members report that as many as six to seven women and children have been murdered and mutilated in this period. Each name is a sister, a mother, a child.
Even if it was one — one is too many. We cannot normalize this. When women cannot walk from Shayamoya to town without fear, when children cannot play in Bhongweni without mothers looking over shoulders, then Greater Kokstad has failed.
I have spoken to mothers at Greater Kokstad Clinic, at taxi rank, at churches. The same fear: “Tolo, what is council doing?” My answer: Not enough.
As a community, we demand:
- Emergency Safety Summit: SAPS Kokstad, Harry Gwala District, GKM Council, CPFs, Traditional Leaders, Churches, Women’s organisations to sit within 7 days. Not next month — now.
- Streetlights and Patrols: Many of these attacks happen in dark areas. GKM must fix streetlights in Horseshoe, Shayamoya, Bhongweni as emergency.
- Victim Support Centre: Usher Memorial Hospital and GKC must have 24-hour trauma counselling for survivors and families. Currently there is no support.
- War Room on GBV: Council must create a GBV War Room with hotline, not just a desk with a poster.
I call on the Acting Municipal Manager and our SAPS Station Commander to release official crime stats for the last 60 days so that we as community know the truth. If my community figure of 6-7 is wrong, correct me with facts. But do not keep us in the dark.
To the families who lost loved ones — PAC stands with you. Izwe Lethu means every life matters. We will not keep quiet while our sisters are killed. To the perpetrators — Kokstad sees you. The law will find you. May the souls of our sisters rest in power. May justice be swift. High Moral, High Discipline. Izwe Lethu!
Yours in Africa,
Shaun Siphathise Gayise, Concerned Parent, Kokstad Resident and PAC Mayoral Candidate — Greater Kokstad
