• Tweet

SURVIVOR: Thandi Mkhize says though she bears the emotional scars of what happened to her last year, she will be spending this month with the less fortunate. PHOTO: BUSISIWE MBATHA

Mkhize - a commander of the Rosebank police station - was shot by the station's clerk, David Kekana, who killed another senior policewoman, Captain Neelavathi Naidu, before committing suicide.

Mkhize says her physical health has improved, but doctors have yet to give her the green light to go back to work.

She admitted to not realising the extent of the damage the shooting did to her emotional health.

As South Africa celebrates Women's Month, Mkhize is reminded of her horrific ordea last year.

She said: "I was fine the whole year until the end of July. In my head, it felt like August 1 [last year].

"Suddenly, I remembered what I was doing on that day. I remember planning with Captain Neelavathi Naidu how we were going to spend Women's Month.

"The day was fine and normal, until Kekana walked into my office and pumped two bullets into me."

Mkhize says she thought Kekana had left the premises after shooting her, when she heard two gunshots going off in Naidu's office - next door.

"When I heard Captain Naidu scream, I wanted to go out and help her. I thought after shooting Naidu, Kekana would run away, but instead he came back for me again."

To Mkhize's disbelief, Kekana fired 12 more bullets at her.

"As he was shooting, I kept on talking to him ... telling him that [his] dismissal was not the end of the road," she said.

Mkhize has forgiven Kekana, has no fears of going back to her old office, and - more than anything - is grateful for the support she got from her family and colleagues.

"I am doing much better now."

Mkhize saidshe would be spending Women's Month with disadvantaged children and abused women.

"I feel children need motherly love, and I want to give it to them."

Mkhize encourages women to be strong and to be able to say "no" to abuse.

"Women should stop volunteering themselves to abuse. I would like to say to them; 'stay strong and learn to stand up for yourself'," she says.

Several hours after the interview, Mkhize called to tell this writer that she had just inquired - for the umpteenth time in a day, a week and a month - about the health and wellbeing of Naidu's two children, who have become "virtually my own kids now".

Rosebank police station spokesman Bonginkosi Mdletshe said since the tragedy, the station has undertaken to encourage staff to report any difficulties they encounter at work, whether they are big or small.

- lerato@sowetan.co.za

Comments

• Sign in or sign up to comment

Thu Jun 20 06:39:43 SAST 2013 ::

Aug 20, 2012

imd

her horrific ordea last year.....
====================
Editor...... eh clerk shooting yho!!!!
Report Abuse

Aug 20, 2012

Lehido

I was there.....it was not nice that day
Report Abuse

Aug 20, 2012

mbondo

That's why it's important to treat the dismissed person with respect , not to back bite him /her and spite them. They must also be referred to get help because in these trying times dismissal does n't sit well to other people. This is a lesson Thandi Mkhize learned the hard way, that you cannot just fire a person and sit back , relax as if nothing happen. I think Thandi and Naidu were in this both of them , they fired him and that's why he went after them.
Report Abuse

Aug 20, 2012

Chichi7

@ Mbondo- are you serious? People must walk on egg shells because you have been dismissed. Are people not dismissed because of what they have done?
Report Abuse

Aug 20, 2012

ILTAK

ish am hpy whn ur stl strng god bless u

Report Abuse

Aug 20, 2012

Kabelo10

You are a strong women mama, for you surviving that bullets. May God bless you in many ways. We love you. and Goodluck in your life.
Report Abuse

Aug 20, 2012

Galfrend

God has a reason why he made you survive that ordeal. Yoh 14 bullets!! you are s strong lady and may you heal and be strong for your family.
Report Abuse

Aug 21, 2012

babyfats

dats my sister i hope she will go throught dis one day i wnt 4get wat happened to her
Report Abuse

Read all 8 comments