Jayden-Lee Meek's murder suspect back in court
A mother accused of murdering her 11-year-old son Jayden-Lee Meek has insisted in court she is being framed and vowed to prove her innocence at ...
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IOL News
16 minutes ago
- IOL News
Jealousy and violence: The alarming rise of filicide in South Africa
Dina Rodrigues was the mastermind behind killing baby Jordan-Leigh Norton in 2005. Image: File On the 20th anniversary of the murder of 6-month-old baby Jordan-Leigh Norton, who would have been a university student had her young life not been snuffed out by revenge filicide, a crime expert says the deliberate killing of children is becoming more common in South Africa. Dina Rodrigues was the mastermind behind the June 15, 2005, murder of her then-boyfriend Neil Wilson's daughter, Jordan-Leigh, and it was one of the first documented contract killings of an infant in South Africa. Rodrigues is set for her parole hearing in just six years. The case chillingly has similar hallmarks of former pre-school teacher, Amber Lee Hughes, who last week admitted to killing her lover's 4-year-old daughter, Nada-Jane Challita. Hughes started making headlines in January 2023, following her arrest for the murder of Nada-Jane, whose body was found floating in a tub of water in her Glenvista home in Johannesburg. Hughes began her relationship with Nada-Jane's father in 2021 and moved into his home, with the couple allegedly often having arguments. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Slain four-year-old Nada-Jane Challita. Image: File The National Prosecuting Authority said during one incident, Hughes allegedly raped the child by inserting a sharp object into her private parts while she was in her care. Hughes has denied raping the child. It was further revealed that Hughes allegedly drowned the child in a bathtub and cut both of her wrists. Hughes had previously pleaded not guilty to the murder, but last week she confessed. Preschool teacher, Amber Lee Hughes(25), charged with two counts of rape and murder of her learner and stepdaughter, Nada-Jane Challita Image: Screenshot On Sunday, the Cape Argus contacted Jordan-Leigh's grandfather, Vernon Norton, who said they were not in a position to comment on the anniversary or the Hughes case, while queries to her mother, Natasha Norton, went unanswered via her social media. Earlier, spokesperson for the Department of Correctional Services, Singabakho Nxumalo, confirmed Rodrigues was eligible for a parole hearing in December 2031. Celeste Louw, general manager of operations at the TEARS Foundation, said filicide was becoming more common in South Africa. Filicide is defined as the deliberate killing of one or more children by a parent, step-parent, or other parental figure. A particularly rare and poorly understood subtype is revenge filicide, where a parent murders their child to inflict emotional distress upon the child's other parent. Louw told the Cape Argus the crime was a form of power over their partner after feeling rejected. 'Revenge filicide is not as uncommon as many believe. In situations where a partner feels rejected, humiliated, or out of control, especially during separation or conflict," she said. 'They may use the ultimate act of violence, the killing of the child, as a way to punish the other parent. 'It's a deeply disturbing expression of rage and a need to inflict maximum pain, often linked to a sense of ownership and control. While unthinkable to most, it reflects how emotional distress, entitlement, and a desire for retaliation can collide with devastating consequences. Louw shared the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) definition of the crime in which the HSRC's Dr Gadija Khan said filicide occurred across various cultures, geographic locations, and socio-economic conditions. Khan highlighted the motives behind filicide, often involving complex psychological influences such as stress or depression. Meanwhile, Rodrigues, who is imprisoned at Pollsmoor Prison, earned an Education degree and has taught at Worcester Female Prison while she was an inmate there. In June 2021, Zanethemba Gwada and Bonginkosi Sigenu, who were convicted of Jordan-Leigh's murder, were paroled in 2017 and 2018 respectively, serving 13-14 years. Gwada, Sigenu, Rodrigues, Sipho Mfazwe, and Mongezi Bobotyane were all convicted of the 2005 murder. Rodrigues hired the men, who posed as couriers, offering R10 000 for the infant's murder by stabbing her in the neck. Rodrigues, who was dating Jordan-Leigh's father, Wilson, stated she couldn't accept his illegitimate child's existence and confessed to hiring someone to kill the baby. She told Wilson she paid R10 000 to "make the problem go away," later realising her evil. Rodrigues, Mfazwe, and Bobotyane received life sentences. Sigenu, 16 at the time, pleaded guilty at 18, detailing how he was asked to strangle the baby. He recalled Jordan-Leigh crying, reminding him of his brother Bobotyane, and then cutting the baby's throat. Get your news on the go, click here to join the Cape Argus News WhatsApp channel. Cape Argus
eNCA
16 minutes ago
- eNCA
Cost to economy estimated to be over R50bn
JOHANNESBURG - It's been three years since the devastating July unrest. It left hundreds dead, businesses and malls looted, and infrastructure damaged. The riots cost the country over R50-billion.
eNCA
16 minutes ago
- eNCA
Lusikisiki mass murder trial begins
MTHATHA - The trial of six men charged with the murders of 18 people in Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape is beginning. The suspects face charges of murder, kidnapping and robbery with aggravating circumstances. They are accused of shooting and killing 18 people at Ngobozana village last September. The NPA says the trial is expected to take eight weeks. In March, charges against two suspects were withdrawn.
