Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News, 2013-12-12

A 49 year old Muslim woman has been savagely murdered in Quellerina in Florida, West of Johannesburg.

Rubena Rocker’s body was found by her friend Nasser Malik lying in a pool of blood on the staircase of her home on Wednesday evening.

She was strangled with a scarf and stabbed at the back of her head late Tuesday evening or early Wednesday morning.

Rubena’s sister Zaiboonisha told Radio Islam her sister who was a qualified midwife and also studying to become a medical doctor was on constant standby because of her work with the mobile clinic operated by Crescent of Hope, a NGO based in Lenasia.  

Zaiboonisha said she become worried when Rubena’s mobile went to voicemail as they would communicate on a daily basis.

“So I asked Nasser please take some food for her because I don’t think she went to work, because when we phoned the guy Mohammad who drives the ambulance for her, he said he tried to make contact with her (but) she didn’t answer her phone.

Zaiboonisha asked Nasser to contact security company ADT to inspect the premises when he arrived at the Rubena’s home.  Upon arrival they found the lights still switched on. They knocked on the window to get the attention of Rubena. However there was no reply.

From the window the security officers could see the house was ransacked with Rubena's clothes scattered on the bed.

Walking around the home they found the kitchen window broken and the door to one of the two kitchens which was hardly ever used by Rubena open.

Rubena was lying on the stairs facedown. “I think she tried to runway and I think when she got to the staircase she collapsed,” said Zaiboonisha.

Zaiboonisha said nothing was taken from the home besides Rubena's mobile phone. She said she does not know what the motive for the murder could be but does suspect Rubena’s estranged husband or son in law may be allegedly involved.

Police were on the scene shortly after the Rubena’s body was found.

Sergeant Rodney Sintwa from the Florida Police station told Radio Islam they currently don’t have any suspects and are following leads which they are investigating.  

Yusuf Suliman the assistant administrator at Crescent of Hope said Rubena was a fantastic people’s person. “People used to queue up from 6am for her waiting for the clinic.”

Rubena is survived by her two daughters Sajida and Shahista.

(Twitter: @Faizie143)