Another woman fatally stabbed in Bonteheuwel: Louisa van Sensie's tragic stabbing

Another woman has been stabbed in Bonteheuwel, with the attacker known to the victim.

This is the second stabbing in the arealess than a week.

Captain FC van Wyk, provincial police spokesperson, confirmed that on Sunday, February 8, at around 12.30am, Bishop Lavis police responded to a stabbing at a home on Loganberry Street, Bonteheuwel, where Louisa van Sensie had been injured.

Ms van Sensie, 58, was reportedly stabbed during an argument involving her, her husband, and a man and another man, aged 25. 

“Reports indicate that the suspect went to the house looking for a friend. Her husband told him that his friend was asleep and that he would not wake him. The suspect became angry and attacked the husband with a knife. The husband defended himself with a knife,” Captain Van Wyk said.

Ms van Sensie tried to intervene and stop the fight, but she was stabbed in the shoulder by the suspect. Both Ms van Sensie and the attacker were taken to hospital.

Ms van Sensie was declared dead on arrival, while the suspect, 25, remains under police guard receiving medical treatment, he said.

Captain van Wyk said the incident appears to have stemmed from a personal argument between the parties.

Ward 50 councillor Angus McKenzie said he knew Ms van Sensie and described her as a visitor to his office and part of his extended community.

“Her passing is extremely sad and shocking. It is heartbreaking that women are being attacked in our community," he said.

“We know that her husband was also injured in the altercation. Louisa was defending him when she was stabbed. Rumours do not change the fact that another woman has been killed by a man. This raises serious questions about how men are treating women, and we must have this conversation," said Mr McKenzie.

“We are grateful to police for their work in both this case and the Shireena Birsch case, where arrests were made. We have submitted letters to the court in both cases requesting that bail be denied," he said.

"We must send a strong message: violence against women affects all of us and challenges basic morality. We will continue to fight for justice so that the murder of women sends a clear warning that such acts will not be tolerated,” he said.

Last week, another stabbing occurred in Bonteheuwel, where a woman identified as Shireena Birsch was killed, ("Man arrested after woman fatally stabbed in Bonteheuwel home" Athlone News February 5).

In that case, her husband was arrested in connection with her death. He will appear in the Bishop Lavis Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, February 10, for a formal bail application.