Young mother murdered

Gallery Video

MOSSEL BAY NEWS AND VIDEO - She loved life. This is how Naledi Phandingawo (26), who died allegedly at the hands of the father of two of her three children, is described.

Her children are aged two, four and six.

Naledi died of multiple wounds at a local hospital on Saturday, 6 June, after Mlondi Ntlangulela (34) allegedly attacked her with a knife and an axe.

National headlines
The murder of Naledi made national headlines this week. Naledi's sister, Yashika Phangindawo, and Nongabom Willie, a cousin, spoke to the Mossel Bay Advertiser this week, in the presence of a confidant, Vuyolwethu Mfumbe. They say the former couple had a history of abuse.

Yashika explained that Naledi was at a residence in Adriaans Avenue in the early evening when she was attacked. "She drove there with her car to assist Mlondi's brother who requested her help. They were on good terms." According to Yashika, Naledi did not enter the house and was attacked outside in the yard without warning. Her car was also badly damaged. Yashika laments the fact that nobody intervened to save her sister's life. The Phandingawo family only learnt of the incident after Naledi was taken to hospital and already declared dead. Yashika identified her sister's body. She covers her face while talking about it.

Ntlangulela fled the scene and handed himself over at the Lwandle Police Station in Cape Town on Sunday, 7 June.

'No bail'
Vuyolwethu Mfumbe, a mentor to Naledi, rallied the community to celebrate her life, but moreover to make a statement against gender-based violence. "On Sunday night, we called on the youth. On Monday night, the mothers came together, because we believe 'my child is your child' and on Tuesday, the men came together. We cannot stay silent."

Mfumbe said they tried to adhere to all the lockdown rules, but the gender-based murder was too serious to ignore.

On Wednesday, during Ntlangulela's first court appearance, a group of activists arrived at the Mossel Bay Magistrate's Court bearing posters, reading "#JusticeForNaledi" and "No bail". They dispersed quietly when instructed to do so by the police.

Ntlangulela appeared briefly in court yesterday and the next court date was set for 17 June for a formal bail application.

Photo gallery: Justice for Naledi

'We should roar'
Naledi's death caused an outcry on social media and other platforms. She was a former learner at Point High School and an ex-class mate urged the Advertiser to tell her story. Donalda Bantom from the group, Concerned Women of South Africa, among the activists at court, said the social stigma of gender-based violence caused victims to remain silent. "We should roar and not stay silent."

"We are urging the men out there: stop killing women," said a member of the ANC Women's League outside court.

Vuyolwethu Mfumbe says Naledi had been "on track with her life" lately. "She was strong and wanted to make her own way for her and her children. As a former Miss KwaNonqaba and model, she enjoyed working at Herbalife. She was finally happy."

The burial of Naledi will take place on 16 June, National Youth Day.

The murder of Naledi Phandingawo made national headlines, but it is here at home in Mossel Bay, where the loss was felt by many who knew her and expressed their feelings in letters, on social media, through tribute videos and more.

Mof-cando from KwaNonqaba, writes:

My name is Mof-cando, working under Crystal Blaq Entertainment as a recording and performing artist.

I write every song through my heartbeat, according to things I see and experience in life.

I also write about everything that affects our society on a daily basis. The song I used on a video of the vigil for Naledi, was one of my singles I wrote in 2018.

Watch the video here:

I was basically trying to make people aware of the danger that can come from the people whom you think you love and trust. After I heard the sad news about Naledi, then it came out as a perfect song to spread the word to every citizen out there.

As someone who knew Naledi for 15 years, I can easily say Mossel Bay has lost one of its best. Young, ambitious and beautiful, Naledi could do anything she put her mind to.

When it comes to us men, I think we really need to start speaking to one another and share our problems on a monthly or maybe weekly basis because it is clear, as men, our anger is taking over our love.

Every man needs to be reminded that every lady or woman you see or get involved with represents your own mother, therefore that's God's reflection.

Amanda Nonkenge, writes:
One of us has been brutally murdered at the hands of her lover and again, we are going to say #JusticeforNaledi.
Is that all we can do? What is it that we are missing? Because clearly we have not dealt with the root of a problem. Should we add a subject at school which teaches boys how a woman needs to be treated?
Should we focus on men and let them know it's ok to be vulnerable and it's ok to seek help? We are a country with broken men, who take their brokenness out on women, be it in the form of rape, murder or beating them.
Are these hash tags getting us anywhere?
Have the hashtags saved any lives? Is this really all we can do #hashtagJusticeFor, #hashtagMenAreTrash, #hashtagNotInMyName; is that all?
There is an elephant in the room which needs to be dealt with. It's bigger than hashtags; it's men.
We have focused a lot on women empowerment and totally neglected the only people that need help in this country: men are broken, men need help.
I call up on all men to stand together, call each other out, have seminars and stop bottling things up. Walk away when you are not happy. Know that you don't own a woman; she's not your property. How long should we suffer at the hands of men, how long?
Senzeni na Senzeni na Senzeni na
Enough is Enough
Men please hear our cry.

Venolea Fortuin, Chairperson of DAWN, East Region, writes:
The DA (Democratic Alliance) Women’s Network in the East Region fears the rise of gender-based violence (GBV) & femicide in South Africa
during the national lockdown. We are deeply concerned about the increasing incidents of violence against Women and Children. All of us are currently fighting an invisible enemy and should therefore not be burdened with more hardship at home. We are saddened to learn of yet another brutal murder of a young woman from Mossel Bay this past weekend.
We express our deepest condolences to her children and family who are left behind. She was a beautiful soul, as are all other victims who do not deserve to succumb to these terrible acts of violence. It also concerns us that these victims become statistics, but her death reminds us again that we can no longer be complacent. As DAWN we urgently call upon all our men, government departments, NGO’s, faith-based organisations, and society as a whole to unite and pull resources together to fight against the GBV scourge. It is the responsibility of all of us.
All killing and hurting of women must stop. The DAWN in the East Region promises to continue to advocate for the rights of women and children in our country. We stand in solidarity with all women. Stop hurting us.

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