Nosicelo Mtebeni: Boyfriend du

Nosicelo Mtebeni
Image source: Twitter

Nosicelo Mtebeni: Boyfriend due in court for student’s gruesome murder

Nosicelo Mtebeni’s head was found inside a cupboard in her home, while her other body parts were inside a suitcase and a black bag

Nosicelo Mtebeni: Boyfriend du

Nosicelo Mtebeni
Image source: Twitter

A 25-year-old man believed to have been the boyfriend of University of Fort Hare student Nosicelo Mtebeni is expected to make an appearance in the East London Magistrate’s court for her grisly killing.

The 23-year-old’s dismembered body parts were stuffed into a suit case. Her other limbs were also found in a black plastic bag on Thursday, 19 August 2021, in Quigney, East London. Police said the body parts (in the black bag and suitcase) were discovered outside the couple’s home, while Mtebeni’s head was found inside their cupboard.

Calls for justice in Nosicelo Mtebeni’s murder

The Law student’s death has gripped the country and reignited calls for tougher sentences to be imposed on men who kill women.

’’While at the scene, police received information that a 25-year-old suspect believed to be linked to the murder was found and immediately arrested,” Eastern Cape police spokesperson Brigadier Tembinkosi Kinana said at the time.

The province’s police commissioner Lieutenant-General Liziwe Ntshinga has also expressed shock at the gruesome crime.

“This is one of the devastating scenes women do not want to see during this Women’s Month. The incident represents a manifestation of the stubbornness of gender-based violence and femicide incidents which are endemic within our society,” Ntshinga said.

The Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) said it has made a number of recommendations to the Department of Higher Education and Training to address gender-based violence and femicide on campus.

“These grim developments have darkened the meaning of women’s month and we view the continued killings of women as an act of confrontation to the law by GBV perpetrators,” the commission’s Tamara Mathebula said.

The commission further said it is pleased with the university’s decision to offer counselling to the students.

“We applaud the SAPS for the speedy arrest of the man suspected of having committed this murder, and call on the court to deny him bail,” Mathebula added.