**Tragic Disappearance and Discovery**
The community of Hlokozi will gather on Saturday to lay 23-year-old Ayabonga Mjilo to rest after her tragic and untimely death. Mjilo disappeared on Christmas Day, a day meant for celebration and family gatherings. Sadly, her body was later discovered in a shallow grave at the home of her former work manager, Mfanafuthi Kunene, in the Inanda area, north of Durban.
**Suspect Appears in Court**
Kunene has since appeared in the Durban Magistrates Court in connection with Mjilo’s disappearance and murder. The case has drawn widespread attention, becoming yet another stark reminder of the gender-based violence (GBV) crisis gripping the nation.
**A Final Farewell**
On Saturday, family, friends, and community members will come together to pay their final respects to Ayabonga. The ceremony will be a poignant moment for all who knew and loved her, as they bid a heart-wrenching farewell to a young life taken too soon.
**Government Response and GBV Concerns**
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli is expected to attend the funeral. Premier Ntuli is set to address the gathering, making announcements on strategies to tackle GBV and ensure the safety of women and girls in the province.
This tragedy highlights the alarming rate of violence against women in KwaZulu-Natal. The province has seen numerous cases of women being killed, particularly during the holiday season.
**Raising Awareness and Calling for Action**
In light of these incidents, Premier Ntuli has called on leaders across the province to champion anti-GBV campaigns. His attendance at Mjilo’s funeral is a statement of solidarity with the family and a commitment to ending these heinous crimes.
**A Community in Mourning**
The Hlokozi community remains in shock, struggling to come to terms with the loss of a young woman whose life held so much promise. As they gather to celebrate her life and mourn her death, they also hope that justice will prevail for Ayabonga and her grieving family.
**The Call to End GBV**
Mjilo’s story is a grim reminder of the violence that many women face in South Africa. Her death adds to the growing list of women killed in KwaZulu-Natal and the nation as a whole, underscoring the urgency of addressing GBV comprehensively.
As Ayabonga Mjilo is laid to rest, her story will hopefully serve as a catalyst for change, inspiring efforts to create a safer society where such tragedies become a thing of the past.