The ActionSA Gauteng Women’s Forum welcomes today’s proceedings in the matter concerning the rape and murder of 84-year-old Koko Mmaneli of Ramotse Village.
The accused appeared in court for a second time, abandoned his bail application, and the matter was postponed to 6 August 2026 for further investigation.
As the matter remains before the courts, we respect the judicial process and trust that law enforcement agencies will continue with their investigations to ensure that justice is served.
The rape and murder of Koko Mmaneli was a heinous act of violence that has shocked the Ramotse community and many South Africans. An elderly woman who should have been living out her later years in peace and dignity instead became the victim of a brutal crime.
The circumstances surrounding her death demand serious reflection from all sectors of society. The safety of elderly people cannot become a concern only after a tragedy has occurred. It requires ongoing vigilance, community involvement and effective crime prevention measures.
The Constitution guarantees every person the right to dignity, equality, freedom and security. These rights extend to every elderly person in our country. They are not negotiable, and they cannot be enjoyed only by some while others live in fear.
The death of Koko Mmaneli has once again highlighted the vulnerability of many elderly people, particularly those who live alone or depend on the support of their communities. Protecting senior citizens requires a collective effort from families, communities, government institutions and law enforcement agencies.
The ActionSA Gauteng Women’s Forum therefore calls on Community Policing Forums, community leaders, faith-based organisations and residents to play a more active role in safeguarding elderly people within their communities. We must know who the vulnerable members of our communities are, check on them regularly and ensure that they are not left exposed to criminal elements.
We further call on government to strengthen programmes aimed at protecting the elderly and to ensure that crimes committed against vulnerable people receive the urgent attention they deserve.
While today’s court proceedings represent progress in the pursuit of justice, they do not lessen the pain experienced by the Mmaneli family. Their loss serves as a painful reminder that every failure to protect the vulnerable carries devastatina consequences.
As the ActionSA Gauteng Women’s Forum, we extend our hearttelt condolences to the family of Koko Mmaneli and to the broader Ramotse community.
A society is judged by how it treats its most vulnerable members. The heinous rape and murder of Koko Mmaneli must strengthen our resolve to protect the elderly, support victims of crime and ensure that justice takes its course without fear or favour.
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Fun South African Fact: Vilakazi Street in Soweto has been home to two Nobel Peace Prize winners. A tour through Soweto will always stop at Vilakazi Street to reveal a number of heritage sites of great importance to democratic South Africa. Both Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu lived here at some point in their lives. In 1984, Archbishop Desmond Tutu received the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition for his non-violent fight against the apartheid regime. Nine years later in 1993, Nelson Mandela shared the Nobel Peace Prize with then-president F.W. de Klerk as an award for their role in bringing about the peaceful end of apartheid. Nelson Mandela then went on to become South Africa’s first democratically elected president in 1994.