SA loses a good leader

Tuesday, August 7, 2018

The death of Khensani Maseko has robbed South Africa of a good leader, says Communications Minister Nomvula Mokonyane.

“I have heard her speaking personally and I have looked at her determination and I actually would have wished to see Khensani rising beyond being the leadership of the Student Representative Council (SRC) but possibly a future leader of this country,” Mokonyane said.

She was on Tuesday addressing the media on the Cabinet Lekgotla, which is currently underway at Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guesthouse in Tshwane. 

Maseko, who was a student at Rhodes University, took her own life on Friday after battling depression following an alleged rape said to have occurred in May.

“We should be a nation that does not only reflect once somebody has [died]. We must all work towards preventing these kinds of incidents from happening -- whether it’s someone you know or somebody you don’t know,” Mokonyane said.

The Minister said the meeting would also discuss issues around crime prevention, focusing on crimes against women, children and vulnerable groups in a manner that will respond to the national outcry on violence perpetrated against women and other vulnerable groups.

The Minister said it was important to support and listen to women when they raise their concerns.

“Our hearts and prayers are with the Maseko family and the community of young people as well as women in our country. Crime prevention and victim support also becomes important. It is something that we have to look at,” she said.

The Minister has conveyed condolences to the Maseko family.

In a statement, the family said Khensani passed away by taking her own life, which has devastated her family, friends and the larger community of colleagues and peers.

“As a family, we do not take lightly the circumstances leading up to Khensani's death. We would like to explicitly express that we condemn, in the strongest possible terms, any form of violence and abuse against women and more particularly rape against women.

“We urge that the law should be allowed to take its course,” the family said in a statement.

Maseko will be buried on Thursday, Women's Day. – SAnews.gov.za