Gogo Lema Linah Mnisi (85) was allegedly sexually assaulted and brutally killed while on her way to collect her grant in Maropeng Village, Makapanstad.
The shocking incident happened in Maropeng Village, Makapanstad, North West, on Sunday morning, 3 May 2026.
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Residents said they are shocked and traumatised by the incident.
Gogos from the area told Daily Sun they are living in fear and want justice.
They also said they want the killer, if arrested and after serving a sentence, to be removed from the village.
Kearabilwe Tladi (24), a grandson of Lema Linah Mnisi (85), said he wants justice for his gogo.
“My gogo didn’t deserve to die like this. She always told me to grow and be a man and stand on my own,” he said.
He said the family is shocked and traumatised.
“We’re in great pain. She was a loving gogo,” he said.
Francinah Mafodi (67) said the community is in great shock and pain.
“We want the suspect to be arrested and chased away from the village, including his family. The deceased was quiet and loved to clean her yard,” she said.
“We were exercising next to her home. She wasn’t bothering anyone. She was living alone.”
Francinah claimed the person who sexually abused and killed gogo also stole her ID and Sassa card.
Community member Nkele Mmunku (72) said: “She was painfully killed. I wish I could see her killer so that I could ask him why he killed her.
“Linah loved people and was a Christian. We went to moshate and to the police station to tell them that we are being killed, we need help.”
She is also pleading with the community policing forum to stand up and fight crime.
Former councillor and neighbour Evelyn Mosipa said: “She never bothered anyone. She was always home. She usually went to get her grant and came back home. Why should an 85-year-old gogo be killed in such a way?”
Mosipa said when the killer is arrested, he shouldn’t be granted bail.
She also said once sentence has been served, the suspect shouldn’t return to the community.
She alleged that the gogo was stabbed four times in the chest.
Namatshego Mosipa, ANC Women’s League Young Women’s Desk convenor, said: “We’re heartbroken. We want the killer arrested so that we can feel safe. We want gender-based violence cases to be taken seriously in South Africa.”
David Manamela, Moretele Crime Prevention director, said it was traumatising to see the gogo’s body lying there.
“They killed her in the morning while she was walking alone. We want justice and the killer to be arrested,” he said.
The gogos and local community said they handed over their grievances to the local police station and moshate on Wednesday, 20 May 2026.
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North West police spokesman Captain Majang Skalkie said: “Makapanstad police are investigating a murder case after the body of an 85-year-old woman was found at Moropeng Section in Makapanstad.
“The deceased sustained multiple stab wounds. No suspect has been arrested yet. Investigations are ongoing.”
