Hammanskraal - As family, friends and colleagues gathered to remember the life of murdered policewoman Constable Francis Rasuge, government reiterated its commitment to effectively deal with women abuse.
Rasuge disappeared in August 2004. Her boyfriend William Nkuna was convicted of her murder and sentenced to life in prison in 2005, although her body had not been found.
Her remains were recently discovered while construction work was taking place at Nkuna's home in Temba, north of Pretoria.
Speaking at Rasuge's memorial service in Hammanskraal on Wednesday, Minister for Women, Children and People with Disabilities, Lulu Xingwana, and Deputy Police Minister Maggie Sotyu both highlighted government's determination to curb women abuse.
"As government, we will continue to fight the growing scourge of the abuse and killing of our women and children. We will leave no stone unturned," Xingwana said.
She also called on communities to play a meaningful role by reporting instances of abuse instead of turning a blind eye.
Xingwana said Wednesday marked a day of closure for Rasuge's family and friends.
"We know the truth, even though the brute ... who murdered this young girl never told the truth," she added.
Sotyu spoke out on police killings, calling for more support for the men and women in blue who put their lives on the line in order to serve the country.
"When you kill a police officer, you are killing a guardian... we encourage communities and people to support our police officers," she said.
Sotyu also urged women to choose their partners wisely so that they did not end up victims of abuse.
Police considered any form of abuse against women as a serious crime and were continuing in their efforts to put the perpetrators of these crimes behind bars, she added.
Rasuge's brother, Edward Rasuge, thanked the police, communities and other organisations that had supported the family.
