Pretoria - Two Ga-Rankuwa teachers have been shot and killed allegedly by a rejected stalker who demanded an arranged marriage with one of them.
Brenda Kgatitsoe and Vumile Mkhize were murdered at their rented residence in Ga-Rankuwa by the alleged partner of one of the women, said their colleagues and locals.
The incident took place just a few weeks shy of their first anniversary of being employed at the Lekgalong Primary School in the township north of Tshwane.
The women, aged 26 and 27, had started working at the school in February 2021 after graduating from the Tshwane University of Technology. They are said to have been the best of friends.
A colleague said Kgatitsoe and Mkhize were so close they wore almost the same styles to work every day. They eventually became so close they decided to move in together.
The educator said problems arose when a man started coming around to school, harassing and stalking one of them.
The victim allegedly informed her colleagues that the man and some of her family relatives wanted to force her into an arranged marriage which she did not want nor consent to.
“I saw him parked outside the gate and went there to watch him until he decided to drive off. In the end, I advised her to go to the police and get a protection order against him. She came back only to say police could do nothing as he had gone back to KZN.
“It’s so sad what happened to these two young ladies. They had both just bought their cars and were really excited to be here.”
The women taught Setswana Home Language, Life Sciences and Life Orientation in Grade 4 to 7.
Principal Benjamin Manicus said colleagues and friends of the deceased were still in shock.
Maniscus said what made it a “bitter-sweet” moment for them was that the women had decided to take their colleagues out for a braai when schools closed last Thursday.
“They bought everyone so much food and drinks on that day; looking back at it now, it’s almost as if she was bidding everyone farewell.
“Everyone is devastated, shocked, sad, every adjective you can think of. We went to the scene, and to see them lying there like that is an image most of us will not forget. I will always remember how they called me Ntate. This situation caught us napping.”
The school indicated it would look to hold a memorial service for Mkhize and Kgatitsoe next Wednesday.
Pretoria News