Woman Allegedly Beaten, Locked Inside Home for Days as Police Docket Later Went Missing

A Khayelitsha woman suffered severe injuries after she was allegedly attacked and locked inside a shack by her boyfriend in July 2022, in a case that later raised concerns about the handling of the police investigation.

Yamkela Sikhafungana was 26 years old at the time and had gone to visit a friend when her boyfriend allegedly became angry with her. According to the account, he later locked her inside their home and assaulted her. The attack left her with serious injuries that required hospital treatment.

Among the injuries she reportedly suffered were facial fractures, a broken nose, extensive swelling around both eyes and damage to blood vessels in her eyes. The injuries affected her ability to see and were serious enough to require eye surgery. She also suffered a wound to her head and remained in hospital for more than a week while receiving treatment.

Her family also alleged that her belongings were destroyed during the incident. Her clothes and other personal items were reportedly burned, and she was allegedly pushed outside while wearing only her underwear after the assault.

The circumstances surrounding her disappearance added to the family’s concern. Her boyfriend reportedly told relatives that Yamkela was missing and later contacted her sister to ask whether the family had seen her. Relatives began looking for her, but they became suspicious when they noticed that her WhatsApp account was still active. They reportedly feared that someone else might have been using her phone and responding to messages.

A cousin eventually went to the shack where Yamkela was believed to be. When her boyfriend allegedly refused to open the door, neighbours helped force their way inside. Yamkela was reportedly found injured and was taken to hospital, where she received treatment for the injuries she had sustained.

The matter was later reported at Harare SAPS. Her boyfriend, identified as Silulami Madikizela, was arrested and charged with assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm. He was granted bail towards the end of July 2022, with conditions reportedly requiring him to stay away from Yamkela and not contact her.

Her family later alleged that he failed to comply with those conditions, claiming that he continued to contact Yamkela by phone and remained in the area despite the restrictions.

The case encountered another difficulty when a magistrate instructed the investigating officer to locate the missing police docket or reconstruct it. The missing docket raised concerns about the progress and handling of the case, particularly given the seriousness of the allegations and the injuries suffered by Yamkela.

The case highlights the difficulties victims of domestic violence can face even after reporting alleged abuse to the authorities. It also underlines the importance of properly investigating such complaints, protecting victims from further harm and ensuring that evidence and case records are handled carefully. For Yamkela and her family, the events have involved not only the physical and emotional consequences of the alleged attack, but also uncertainty over the progress of the legal case.

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