The Democratic Alliance (DA) extends our deepest condolences to the family of Lizeny Molehe following the tragic discovery of her body in the river near Longlands on Friday evening.
This is the outcome that her family, friends and the Longlands community had prayed they would never have to face. Our thoughts are especially with Lizeny’s seven-month-old child, her mother, Ms Lesego Gerts, and all those who loved her.
Upon receiving a call from a family member informing me that passers-by had noticed what appeared to be a body beneath the bridge, I immediately contacted the Provincial Commissioner of SAPS, who arranged for the Diving Unit to attend the scene. Her body was recovered later that evening.
While the recovery of Lizeny’s body brings an end to the search, it marks the beginning of the family’s search for truth and justice.
The DA now calls on SAPS to ensure that the investigation proceeds with the utmost urgency and professionalism. Every available investigative resource must be utilised to establish exactly what happened to Lizeny, to secure all relevant evidence and to ensure that anyone responsible is brought before the courts without delay.
We further call on the investigating team to keep the family regularly informed of the progress of the investigation and to ensure that the findings of the post-mortem examination are communicated to the family as soon as they are lawfully available. The family deserves clarity on the cause and circumstances of Lizeny’s death.
We note that a suspect has appeared in court on charges related to the theft of Lizeny’s cellphone. While that case must follow the legal process, the investigation into Lizeny’s death must continue until all the facts are known and the perpetrators are held accountable.
The DA’s Catch, Convict and Clean Up campaign is founded on the principle that victims and their families deserve justice through thorough investigations, successful prosecutions and meaningful accountability. This case must be no exception.
The DA will continue monitoring this investigation closely and engaging with SAPS until the investigation is concluded and justice has been served.
The people of Longlands stood together throughout the search for Lizeny. They now deserve answers, and her family deserves justice.