KwaZulu-Natal Social Development MEC, Mrs Nonhlanhla Khoza, has called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of a man who bludgeoned his wife to death in Emmuas, Mhlathizi village in Bergville.

It is alleged that Zibuyile Ngubeni, 26, was assaulted with a two-pound hammer to death by her partner last Tuesday.

It is alleged that the man fled the scene after killing his wife. However, he continues to threaten her family members through phone calls. The motive for the murder has not yet been established. The deceased is survived by her young children.

MEC Khoza expressed shock at the macabre incident.

She conveyed her deepest and most sincere condolences to the family after losing their daughter so horribly.

"It is truly unfortunate and disturbing to us as a province that such an atrocity occurred when the family was still recovering from the similar incident when they lost another daughter who was shot and killed by a boyfriend in the family yard. This family has experienced so much pain and the killers have not been arrested," said MEC Khoza.

She said the failure to arrest the assassin in the first incident still left many questions in the family.

"We call on law enforcement agencies to work around the clock to find this heartless killer, who is still at large. We are in pain that Ngubeni’s killer is still at large. As a society, we need to ask ourselves if this is the life we want to live, where criminals get away with murder," she said.

MEC Khoza said the society cannot be subjected to such terror where criminals believe they own women.

"It is even worse when you consider that Ngubeni left a young child. The murder of women leave huge scars on children who have to grow without mothers," said MEC Khoza.

She said incidents of such a nature should have no place in society.

"It is reprehensible and we call on the community, who might have seen the suspect, to work with law enforcement authorities to ensure his detention. We need to bring this perpetrator to book, so that he can face the full consequences of his actions."

MEC Khoza has deployed a team of social workers to provide psycho-social support to the family. The team also attended Ngubeni’s funeral, who was laid to rest today.

ISSUED BY THE KWAZULU-NATAL DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT