Rasuge: horror of not knowing

The family of murdered police constable Francis Rasuge realised that something had gone horribly wrong when the police came looking for her service pistol a few days after she had gone missing.

This came out during Rasuge's memorial service in her home town of Temba, in Hammanskraal, yesterday.

Rasuge's brother, Edward, said: "I remember the day she left home to go and fix her hair. All family members were in the house when she left and that was the last time we saw her alive.

"She did not report for duty when she was supposed to and when the police came looking for her service pistol we knew that something was very wrong."

As days went by the family began to lose hope that she was alive.

"We began to search for her at mortuaries, where we saw bodies that left us traumatised. We again regained hope that she was still alive but it was very difficult for the family, especially during Christmas.

"We would sit around the table to eat and start asking ourselves where she was, what she ate and how she was treated."

The family then decided to stop talking about her because it was painful.

"It was hard to accept that she was not coming back," said Edward.

"We prayed a lot and we were very happy when we found her. We were very fortunate to have found her bones and I would like to encourage families who are still looking for their loved ones to put their faith in God."

Women, Children and People with Disabilities Minister Lulu Xingwana described William Nkuna, the killer, as a monster who should rot in jail.

"Even though the animal did not want to talk, God revealed her to us. He did not just brutalise Rasuge's family, he also brutalised his wife - imagine living in a house that is a cemetery for so many years," Xingwana said.

"We are here to express our disgust and say one life sentence was not enough for Nkuna.

"He must rot in jail because we do not know how many women he has killed."

ANC Women's League president Angie Motshekga said that Nkuna should never be paroled.

"We are still shocked at what happened to Francis but her family has faith that could move mountains.

"Nkuna should never taste parole. Real men do not abuse and kill women and children."

Rasuge was last seen alive with Nkuna outside a hairdressing salon in Temba on August 27 2004.

Her remains were found buried at Nkuna's home last month.