Nabeelah Shaikh
ON THE EVE of the campaign for 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, four women in KwaZuluNatal were the victims of brutal acts of violence.
Trisha Naidoo was the only survivor of the four, but she is fighting for her life in intensive care.
Naidoo was doused with petrol and set alight last week, allegedly by a man known to her.
On Thursday, it is alleged that Ramesh Sinanin of Pietermaritzburg shot and killed his wife Aradhna and his 14-yearold daughter Sohini at their home, before turning the gun on himself.
In another incident, Doctor Vajnah Banoo Mahomed’s decomposing body was found by police in the bedroom of her home in the gated complex of Palm Springs, Durban North, on Wednesday.
According to police, Mahomed, who worked at uMlazi’s Prince Mshiyeni hospital, was found gagged and had sustained severe head injuries.
The brutal attacks happened just days before President Jacob Zuma launched the 16 Days of Activism campaign in Limpopo, highlighting the need for more awareness about domestic violence against women and children.
The international campaign runs from November 25 until December 10. On the eve of the campaign for 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, three women have died in three separate incidents of violence in KwaZulu-Natal. From left is Aradhna Sinanin, who was shot by her husband; Aradhna’s daughter Sohini, who was shot by her father; and Dr Vajnah Banoo Mahomed, whose body was discovered at home after she had been gagged and attacked.
Reacting to the alleged murdersuicide, Ramesh Sinanin’s brother Suresh said: “This tragedy has left us in shock. We are trying to piece together what happened.”
Niki Ramcharan, Sohini’s maternal uncle, said he had seen his niece last Sunday and she seemed happier than they had seen her in a long while.
It is believed the incident was the result of a domestic dispute.
While in the petrol incident, Naidoo’s sister Nikita believes her 26-year-old sibling was also a victim of domestic violence.
“My sister was in her home when we heard screams. When we got to her she was sitting in the shower and had burns all over her body. She was screaming uncontrollably and said ‘he did this to me, he did this to me’. She is now fighting for her life,” said Nikita Naidoo.
Police spokesman LieutenantColonel Thulani Zwane confirmed the incident.
The suspect has been detained and will appear in the KwaDukuza Magistrate’s Court tomorrow.
Statistics released by the Medical Research Council (MRC) reveal that one in four women are physically abused by a partner. This translated into four women being killed every day by the men in their lives.
Palesa Mpapa, the legal and advocacy manager at People Opposing Women Abuse (Powa) said little had changed when it came to domestic abuse.
“Cases of women being brutally killed and attempted murder subsequent to domestic violence are alarming and this raises concerns as to where the problem is. It is important for women to break the cycle of abuse,” said Mpapa.
She said women need to be on the lookout for any signs of abuse.
“For a gun or any dangerous weapon to be used against you one day, it will have begun at a stage when the abuse seemed moderate and tolerable. But we need to act on it and not ignore it. The law is also there for us to use to our advantage, but we need to speak out to bring about change.”
Patrick Godana of Sonke Gender Justice condemned the incidents, and particularly that they happened as violence against women and children was being put under the spotlight.
“It is absolutely tragic that we have to hear of these things when there are people and organisations out there who feel so strongly and advocate against it. Every eight hours a woman is killed in this country. This can only end if we stand up and speak out against violence,” said Godana.