On the 3rd of August 2020, Hlengiwe Msimango (30), affectionately known as ‘Pearl’, lost her life, when she was tragically killed by her husband, who allegedly mistook her for an intruder in their home in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Described as “a vibrant soul who brought joy to everyone she encountered”, Pearl is sorely missed by her loved ones, as well as her 2-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter who devastatingly witnessed her mother’s death a year ago.

#JusticeForHlengiwe

Since the heartbreaking incident, a murder charge has been laid against Pearl’s husband Mosa Ntsibande, and his pre-trial will begin on the 14 October in the High Court in Johannesburg. 

According to The World Health Organisation (WHO), 12.1 in every 100 000 women are victims of femicide in South Africa each year – a figure which is five times worse than the global average.

“I hope that Pearl gets the justice she deserves and that this case will be a lesson to all men that heinous actions have consequences” – says KT Swart, a friend of Pearl.

Keeping Pearl’s memory alive

To honour the life and memory of her friend, KT has done her best to provide for Pearl’s children in her absence, by covering their schooling costs, and delivering food and nappies whenever she can.

Reaching out to the public for support, KT has launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy to help cover the cost of the children’s trauma counselling, as well as their education and living expenses for the foreseeable future.

Pictured above: KT and Pearl

Through generous donations, over R8000 has been raised since the launch of the crowdfunding campaign.

KT’s dream is to see Pearl’s children finish university and lead happy, independent, successful lives, which is what Pearl would’ve wanted.

“I am sure there are many out there, like me, who would like to donate to this cause in an attempt to positively impact the lives of these two precious children who have already dealt with so much. Please support our plight to change the trajectory of these children’s lives, and to keep Pearl’s memory alive.  #JusticeForHlengiwe” – says KT

Support Pearl’s children by donating BackaBuddy:

https://www.backabuddy.co.za/pearl

Alternatively, donate Snapscan:

https://pos.snapscan.io/qr/SupportPearlsChildren 

Create a crowdfunding campaign

South Africa’s leading crowdfunding platform, BackaBuddy has supported more than 10 000+ individuals and charities in setting up fundraising campaigns for medical fees, tuition, and various causes in South Africa. The platform has thus far raised over R270 Million.