Unanswered questions… ‘We want justice’

Silverkrans/ Swartruggens – Bontle Lesholo’s family demands answers after their daughter’s body was found next to a river in Tlokweng, Silverkrans, outside Swartruggens on Tuesday 10 August.
She was a beautiful 29-year-old in the prime of her life, gone too soon. She was brutally murdered, leaving behind her two-year-old daughter and a shattered family. 
They want justice for her senseless murder. After the person responsible for Bontle’s death has not yet been arrested, the family has turned to their village’s chief for assistance. In a letter addressed to the chief dated 20 August, it states that they last saw Bontle on 7 August when she and her daughter left home with her boyfriend to spend the weekend with him. 
On 10 August, the child was returned by the sister of Bontle’s boyfriend. Apparently, they asked her where Bontle was, but could not get a clear answer from her. After a few more days went by, they started to suspect that something was seriously wrong. Shortly after opening a missing person’s case, they were called to identify a body that was found next to a river in Tlokweng. Their worst fears were confirmed when it turned out to be their daughter. 
They urged the chief to please help them get to the bottom of this horrific act and to encourage the community to work with the police to speed up investigations into the matter. 
In a show of support the women of the village, dressed in black and marched against gender-based violence on 20 August. “Our community is in shock. Together we will take a stand against abuse,” a community member said.
Bontle was laid to rest at the Tlokweng cemetery on 21 August.