After botching investigations into the rape and brutal murder of the two Mbhele sisters, how can police expect the family to believe they can still crack the case after all?
After botching investigations into the rape and brutal murder of the two Mbhele sisters, how can police expect the family to believe they can still crack the case after all?
Three suspects, who had been arrested for the crime, had charges against them withdrawn in the Johannesburg high court this week.
The prosecution team conceded that there was no evidence to link them to the killing of Nelisiwe and her sister, Lindiwe, near their Pimville, Soweto, home in June last year.
After the court ruling police spokesman Superintendent Lungelo Dlamini was quick to give an assurance that the three were not off the hook and still remained their prime suspects.
This was an admission that the investigation was bungled and that the police will now attempt other means to place the trio back in the dock.
But promises are not enough to heal the family's wounds.
What is needed is sufficient evidence before court that can lead to the conviction of the suspects.
Until that happens, the Mbhele family - who have been waiting for 16 months for justice to take its course - will continue to lack faith in the police.
The souls of their children need to rest in peace.
And this can only happen if the matter is probed meticulously and the culprits brought to book.
SAPS botch-up eats at trust
After botching investigations into the rape and brutal murder of the two Mbhele sisters, how can police expect the family to believe they can still crack the case after all?
After botching investigations into the rape and brutal murder of the two Mbhele sisters, how can police expect the family to believe they can still crack the case after all?
Three suspects, who had been arrested for the crime, had charges against them withdrawn in the Johannesburg high court this week.
The prosecution team conceded that there was no evidence to link them to the killing of Nelisiwe and her sister, Lindiwe, near their Pimville, Soweto, home in June last year.
After the court ruling police spokesman Superintendent Lungelo Dlamini was quick to give an assurance that the three were not off the hook and still remained their prime suspects.
This was an admission that the investigation was bungled and that the police will now attempt other means to place the trio back in the dock.
But promises are not enough to heal the family's wounds.
What is needed is sufficient evidence before court that can lead to the conviction of the suspects.
Until that happens, the Mbhele family - who have been waiting for 16 months for justice to take its course - will continue to lack faith in the police.
The souls of their children need to rest in peace.
And this can only happen if the matter is probed meticulously and the culprits brought to book.