Traffic was brought to a halt last Friday as hundreds of protesters, dressed in bright red and green, marched from the Makhado (Louis Trichardt) train station to the magistrate’s court to demand justice for the murdered Nare Mashamaite (47).

The marchers, who consisted of Transnet officials and members of the local community, gathered at the spot where Mashamaite, a train driver for Transnet, was brutally murdered on 4 June last year. The train had stopped close to the Makhado train station, and Mashamaite got off with her assistant to check whether the train had any mechanical problems. Mashamaite was allegedly first raped before she was killed. Her assistant managed to flee.

Eleven months after her murder, the suspect arrested in connection with her death is still in custody and his case is proceeding at a snail's pace. The slow progress in the case is what sparked the march. “We want these senseless killers convicted. Let them rot in jail – rot,” said Transnet's chief executive officer, Brian Molefe.

Molefe spoke to the marchers during a wreath-laying ceremony that was held on Friday (3rd) at the spot where Mashamaite was killed.

The suspect, Jerry Shuma (22) from Zimbabwe, was initially arrested for housebreaking in October last year, but was later accused of murdering Mashamaite. He has been in custody ever since.

Shuma has appeared in court numerous times, with his case being postponed each time. This is apparently because the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in Polokwane still has to decide whether the State will prosecute Shuma or not. According to information available, a DNA sample had already been taken from Shuma and, based on the outcome of this test, the DPP will decided whether the State has a strong case or not.

Shuma briefly appeared in court shortly before the marchers arrived at the court house. A final postponement was granted by Magistrate Bennie Smith to hear the outcome of the DPP’s decision. Shuma will remain in custody until his next appearance on 7 June.