Government shocked at murder of Zolile Khumalo

The department says it is concerned at the number of incidents in which women have been killed by their partners.

Officials have been commenting after Khumalo was shot dead in her off-campus residence, allegedly by her ex-boyfriend on Tuesday.

 Thabani Mzolo appeared in court in connection with the crime this week.

NOW READ: Former student arrested for MUT residence murder

The department’s Philile Ntuli says South Africa’s femicide rate was four times higher than the global average in 2015. She says  there are even more cases that are not heard of across the country.

 “The question for us is what can we do as a collective to address violence against women,” she said.

 Ntuli says the department is using a number of strategies to address the issue, including analysing and evaluating the policies around gender-based violence, addressing the socio-economic standing of women and creating awareness through outreach programmes.

 Meanwhile, the African Democratic Charge demonstrated against Khumalo’s death in Johannesburg this morning.

 The party is also encouraging women to walk out of abusive relationships.

 Mzolo is due back in court next week.

He caused outrage among MUT students who marched to the Durban Magistrate’s Court by making what many believe to have been a ‘trigger sign’ when going back into the holding cells after his brief appearance.

 Students also questioned why he laughed and smiled in the dock.