It has been two years since Angelique Clarke-Abrahams died after being badly beaten and raped, allegedly by her husband, and her family has not seen an ounce of justice.
The accused, Carl Abrahams, was released on R2,000 bail in the East London magistrate’s court in December 2019 on charges of rape and assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm.
Clarke-Abrahams was beaten and hospitalised during Women’s Month that year and died a few weeks later in September after succumbing to her injuries.
DispatchLIVE reported that Abrahams was then charged with murder.
But since Clarke-Abrahams’s death, “nothing” has happened.
Maria Clarke, Angelique’s mother, said the last she heard was of the case moving from the high court in Makhanda to the East London high court.
This was done to make things “more convenient” for the prosecutor and witnesses, who live in East London.
Anelisa Ngcakani, of the National Prosecuting Authority, said the matter would be heard on November 2 in the East London high court.
“The case is at trial stage so it’s advanced,” Ngcakani said.
However, that was not enough for Clarke.
“I am quite disappointed in our justice system that it has been almost two years and nothing has happened in my daughter’s case,” Clarke said.
Angelique, who was 25 when she died, was allegedly raped and assaulted by her estranged husband while their son, 6, was in the house in Brookville East London, DispatchLIVE reported.
Clarke remembered her daughter as an outspoken person who loved working with people and loved charity work.
“Angelique had always wanted to succeed in life to support her child and wanted nothing but to raise him to be man and work towards giving him a good life.
“She would have liked to be a social worker due to her love of working with children,” Clarke said.
“She loved dancing; she actually belonged to a dancing club called Jaw Breakers.
“She loved her charity work and enjoyed cooking for and feeding the homeless,” the emotional mother said.
Clarke said Angelique’s son was doing well at school but it was a long road ahead in dealing with the pain of losing his mother at a young age.
“He often speaks about her and does still cry for his mother whom he misses a lot,” Clarke said.
She said all the family wanted was justice for their beloved Angelique and for the case to end.
In August 2019, three East London women, including Clarke-Abrahams, were brutally murdered in a short space of time.
The death of university student Uyinene Mrwetyana and stellar athlete and boxer, Leighandre “Baby Lee” Jegels happened in August.
Mrwetyana, 20, was killed by a post office worker in Clarement, Cape Town while Jegels was allegedly shot and killed by her policeman boyfriend.
The death of the three women sent shock waves across SA and sparked nationwide outrage at the escalating rate of femicide in the country.
In September 2019, President Cyril Ramaphosa visited the grieving families of the three women.
Clarke said her family was disappointed by members of the ANC who had visited their home at the time of her daughter’s death and promised to visit after the funeral, but never returned.
“The ANC painted our home half peach and green and never came back to finish the job,” she said.
Clarke said the ANC had promised her a house, which she had yet to see.
DispatchLIVE contacted Princess Faku, an ANC MP and committee member of the Dr WB Rubusana ANC Women’s League regional executive, to determine what had happened.
Faku acknowledge receipt of the enquiry but did not respond by time of writing on Tuesday.
Clarke said she went to the ward councillor offices in East London and spoke to an official who assured her the matter would be investigated.
Princess Faku, ANC MP and member of the Dr WB Rubusana ANC Women’s League said the the regional ANC member who had led the delegation had passed away since the visit to the family.
Faku attended Clarke-Abraham’s funeral as a member of parliament.
She said the current leadership was not aware of the commitment and pledged to assist the family with the housing matter.
DispatchLIVE
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