ANC MP's wife had premonition she would be killed in case of GBV

Just a day before her brutal murder, ANC MP Sibusiso Kula's wife posted about gender-based violence (GBV), warning other women to go for a man's heart instead of their looks.

In the illustration she posted, a man is seen beating up a bleeding woman.

“Dear girls, always choose a person with a good heart, not a handsome animal,” the caption of the illustration read.

Two weeks prior, Kula and his partner Jennifer Motlhomi had attended a funeral of their friend's sister, who was allegedly killed by her partner.

In the months leading up to November 27, Motlhomi had taken to social media to post about what appeared to be her cry for help, saying GBV was real.

“If I wake up killed or any of my family members, pls don't look far (sic),” Motlhomi, 31, wrote in a post on May 28.

Her death months later shocked Wesley Kgang, who publicly said his sister was a victim of GBV.

Kula, 34, was arrested on Friday and appeared in the Orkney magistrate's court yesterday.

National Prosecuting Authority's North West spokesperson Henry Mamothame said: “We are going to oppose bail because we believe that this murder was premeditated. Even without further investigations, we have a solid case.”

The case was postponed to Friday for a formal bail application.

He said Motlhomi’s lifeless body was found in the couple's Kanana home in what appeared to be a robbery.

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“She [Motlhomi] was found with a stab would on her back but the object that was used for her alleged murder has not been recovered. The matter was reported by the accused [Kula], who indicated that he was not at the house when the incident occurred.

“Following thorough investigations by the police which linked him to the alleged murder, he was arrested and charged with murder. Police investigations are still underway and Kula will remain in police custody until the next court appearance,” Mamothame said.

He said it was too early to say if Kula would face more charges as investigations were incomplete.

Kula has been an MP since 2019 and is in the portfolio committee on mineral resources and energy.

According to parliamentary records, Kula attended 28 out of 47 meetings in 2022. He has never asked a single parliamentary question.

National police spokesperson Col Athlenda Mathe said Motlhomi had previously opened a criminal case against Kula.

“A domestic violence report was made by the lady on 26 January 2016. An interdict was granted by the court on 18 March 2016 and the interdict was finalised.”

According to Kula's social media post from September 28, he and Motlhomi had been together for 12 years. In other posts, he shared how Motlhomi was “my everything”.

ANCYL provincial organiser Wesley Kgang said Kula served in the Congress of SA Students at the age of 15.

“In his years in varsity, he was part of Sasco [SA Student Congress] and then he later joined the ANCYL as a regional secretary of the Dr Kenneth Kaunda region. In 2019, he was then deployed to parliament as an MP,” Kgang said.

“The two [Kula and Motlhomi] met in politics during their Cosas years, while she was serving in the Moruleng area. She too joined the ANCYL and was still there at the time of her death. We stand with the victim and we want justice to take its course.”

Provincial ANC spokesperson Tumelo Marupeng said Kula must step aside as per party resolutions.

“The step aside rule is clear. It says when you are charged with a serious charge such as this one [murder], you must voluntarily step aside and allow the process to unfold without you being entangled in any position.

“It further says in the event you do not step aside, section 25 of the ANC constitution will have to kick in. There will be a disciplinary hearing which will end up with a suspension,” Marupeng said.

He said the ANC was disappointed. “We went to bury Jennifer under the impression that we were supporting one of our own, only to find out that we are dealing with a possible perpetrator,” Marupeng said.

“The ANC stands against gender-based violence and that determination doesn’t choose who you are. Whether you are a member of parliament or a minister, even the president. Our plea is that no stone should be left unturned to ensure that there is justice for Jennifer.”

sibiyan@sowetan.co.za