The boyfriend of a 22-year-old Hangberg woman has appeared in court accused of her murder, say police.
Officers responding to a phone call about a murder in Salamander Road found the dead woman, said Hout Bay police chief Captain Jerome Syster.
Captain Syster declined to give the victim’s name, but she has been identified as Tyrah Brown through messages on social media advertising a candlelight vigil at Q Block in Salamander Road, on Thursday at 7pm .
“We arrived at the house just after 1pm that Saturday afternoon. The woman was found dead inside her home with a stab wound in the neck after she had succumbed to her wounds,” said Captain Syster.
“We’ve heard that an argument with the accused, the woman’s boyfriend, 22, had led to the stabbing. At a later stage that day, the suspect was brought by some community members to the police station.”
The man was arrested and appeared in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court on Monday March 4 on a charge of murder, according to Captain Syster.
Hangberg community leader Roscoe Jacobs said it was crucial to tackle gender-based violence on multiple levels.
“I feel we should boost support for organisations like Community Cohesion and Hangberg Dreams. These organisations provide vital support services to victims of gender-based violence, including counselling, advocacy, and education. They need adequate funding and resources to continue their important work.
“There needs to be a strong working relationship between SAPS and the community in Hout Bay. This includes increased visibility of police officers in the community, improved communication between SAPS and residents and ensuring that officers are properly trained to handle cases of gender-based violence.
“We need more community education and awareness programmes. It is important to educate the community about GBV, including its signs, impacts and available resources. This can help to prevent violence, identify victims and encourage reporting.“
Ward councillor Roberto Quintas said: “The scourge of gender-based violence is something that is spoken about often, given so-called ‘presidential priority’, and has for years been a topic in need of address in our communities. I am of the view that this is something that can be addressed at schools but should be instilled as a value system at home by parents and caregivers.
“Violence is largely learnt, copied and emulated, and the signs of violent personality can and should be picked up at home, in early life and addressed by those responsible for nurturing their children.”
The dead woman’s family declined to comment.
