More than 100 women killed in KZN since October

Mchunu was giving an update on the Safer Festive Season operations at the Mtunzini toll plaza on Monday.

He said his office woke up to news of the killing of an 18-year-old woman, allegedly by her 33-year-old partner who was in police custody.

Last week, Sbusiso Lawrence posted a video confession and images of Cele’s lifeless body on his Facebook page, before taking his own life.

READ MORE: Suspect found dead after girlfriend's murder in Umzinto

In another case, in Umkomaas, a woman and her three-year-old son were stabbed to death. The killer also took his own life.

Lamenting the high levels of gender-based violence in the province, Mchunu said it was concerning that majority of the women were killed by someone close to them.

“It is a major concern to us that since the first of October 2024, 110 women were murdered in this province. Sixty-four of them were shot and killed, 24 were stabbed to death, 15 were beaten to death, four suffered blunt force trauma while three others were burned to death. Of concern is that the majority of these women were killed by people known to them.”

The minister pleaded with communities to report GBV cases to police to help stop the killing.

“The fact that these crimes happen behind closed doors and between intimate partners makes it a challenge for police to detect. Those closer, and are in reach of these

victims, like family members, ought to work closely with the police and report these matters timeously.”:

According to the minister, from April 2023 to September 2024, more than 29 000 GBV-F suspects were arrested and at least 559 GBVF accused were sentenced to life in prison.

Mchunu reiterated the police’s commitment to combatting GBV-F. 

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