Raging 'warrior' mother 'beats rapist to death with the help of furious mob after finding her disabled daughter undressed in his house' in South Africa
The 44-year-old - who has been dubbed 'warrior woman' in her village - arrived home after shopping in Cacadu, Eastern Province, last month to find her 20-year-old girl missing.
Neighbours told her she was last seen walking with a 65-year-old local man to his house and when she stormed in she found the pair in a state of undress on the bed.
A furious mob who had followed the woman – who cannot be named to protect the identity of the victim – also entered the suspect's small holding and witnessed the scene.
The mother was charged with murder but has now been cleared following a public outcry.
South African Police spokesman Captain Yolisa Mgolodela said: 'The woman caught the man and her daughter getting dressed and asked her what had just been happening.
'The victim pointed down to her private parts and the mum, assisted by residents, attacked the man who was allegedly beaten to death, leading to the arrest of the mother.
'The assault by the mother and the community on the alleged perpetrator left him so badly injured that he was declared dead at the scene when an ambulance arrived', he said.
She was bailed and brought before Cacadu Magistrates on Monday where the National Prosecuting Authority dropped the charge following a huge wave of public support.
Accused of murder the mother stood before a magistrate on Monday in a court room packed with high profile supporters.
Locals cheered as the charge of murder was dropped.
National Prosecuting Authority's Eastern Cape spokesperson Luxolo Tyali said: 'The matter has been withdrawn after careful consideration by the Director of Public Prosecutions'.
The relieved mother told News24: 'I thank everyone who supported me since the incident and my subsequent arrest and the withdrawal of the charge means I can now help my daughter.
'I will now have the strength to focus fully on her wellbeing as she has been emotionally distressed by what happened to her as a doctor has confirmed that she was raped' she said.
The brave mother had earlier told how the rapist was a family friend and how she stormed up to his house and kicked in the door and found him and her daughter both half dressed.
She told News24:'I cried and asked this man what he was doing to my disabled daughter who cannot even speak for herself so defending her myself was the only option I had'.
She added: 'What happened happened and is in the past and my daughter and I have to rebuild. Once again I thank everyone for their support which has come from all across SA'.
Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane and his Social Development provincial cabinet minister Bukiwe Fanta were among a huge crowd supporting the mother at the court.
Ms Fanta said: 'The mother's action were viewed within the context of a desperate attempt to protect her child from the hands of a violent predator.
'The decision shows compassion for how individuals may react in a crisis.
'While the rule of law is essential for order and justice it must also be applied with empathy and an art of understanding human emotion when faced by threat against ones loved ones.
'The decision reaffirms our commitment to ensuring justice is not blind but also humane. I am very pleased the charge of murder has gone as it shows compassion and understanding.
'This case has touched the hearts of many in our society and sparked a critical dialogue about the issue of GBV, parental instincts, and the complexities of our legal system.
'But the right decision was made by the NPA to withdraw the charge of murder' she said.
Mr Mabuyane added: 'We commend the NPA for its sensitivity and careful consideration of the extreme circumstances that led to this case.
'The decision reflects a compassionate understanding of the context and the instinctive protective actions taken by a mother in a moment of unimaginable desperate trauma.
'No parent should be forced into a position to have to physically intervene to keep their child from harm and we must ensure our communities are safe places for them to grow'.
The incident follows a string of recent cases involving gender-based violence in South Africa.
In 2017 a woman became known as the 'Lion Mama' after she stabbed one man gang-raping her daughter to death and seriously wounding two others.
Nokubonga Qampi received a phone call in the early hours in the same village of Cacadu as the above rape case telling her that three men were taking turns having sex with her daughter, 27.
Brave Nokubonga, then 57, got no reply from the police and said later: 'I was the only one who could help her and I was very scared but it was my daughter so I picked up a knife.
'When I got into the house I could see from the light of my torch one man raping her and two men stood with their trousers round their ankles to take another turn with her.
'The saw me and rushed me and it was an instinctive reaction to protect my daughter with my knife and I do not want to talk about what happened in that room again', she said.
The woman then dubbed 'Mama Lion' for 'protecting her cub' was charged with murder and two counts of attempted murder but all charges were dropped by the NPA after reflection.
The two surviving rapists were sentenced to 30 years each at Cacadu Magistrates Court in 2018 and her daughter Siphokaze waived her right of anonymity to praise her brave mother.
Between 2017 and 2018 there were 74 reported rapes in Cacuda – with many more too frightened to come forward – which the community say is 'shocking' in a population of just 5000.
In 2019 in Muhovhoya Village in Limpopo Province a 39-year-old man was set on fire and burned to death after being caught raping a disabled teenager, aged 17, collecting firewood.
Also in 2019 Veronique Makewana, 23, was charged with attempted murder for slicing off the penis of a man arrested for raping and murdering her daughter, aged 5, in Port Elizabeth.
After a huge public outcry the charge was reduced to assault and magistrates later freed her.
During the royal visit to South Africa by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle the same year the issue of gender-based violence was in headlines after new crime figures showed 125 rapes a day in South Africa.
While the Duke & Duchess of Sussex – then working royals – visited Cape Town the story of local student Uyinene Mrwetyana, 19, who was raped and murdered led to huge demonstations.
Angry protests were sweeping the Western Cape against gender-based violence and Meghan paid a private visit to the Clareinch Post Office where Uyinene was attacked and killed.
Thousands of ribbons were tied to the balcony of the post office as a memorial to the talented teenager who was raped then beaten to death with a set a scales weight by a post office worker.
Meghan released a photo on Instagram of her tying a yellow ribbon with a private message to the victim amongst the sea of ribbons that already festooned the post office which became a shrine.
Evil Luyanda Botha, 42, had targeted the student after he told her to collect a parcel she was expecting after closing hours.
He then raped her and beat her to death was jailed for life in 2019.
South Africa is one of the most dangerous countries in the world with 75 murders a day and 125 rapes reported.
Most involve territory and drugs wars in poor townships where life is cheap.
Although tourists are vulnerable to car-jacking and being held up and robbed or being pickpocketed there have only been 5 tourists murdered in 8 years - all in situations that were avoidable.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Home and Away star reveals he was raped by two men when he was 18 - and his dad's savage reaction after telling him about the assault
Home and Away star Mat Stevenson has revealed he was raped by two men when he was 18-years-old. The 56-year-old, who played Adam Cameron on the soap from 1989 to 1994, spoke out about the horrifying ordeal in an interview with The Sydney Morning Herald. He explained he had attended a business presentation about becoming a real estate agent when the assault occurred. After the event, he was offered a drink by his prospective mentor but immediately 'became dizzy'. 'This other bloke [then] came out of nowhere. I was paralysed, I was a strong young kid, I was a good sportsman, but I was paralysed,' Mat said. The men raped the actor who 'blacked out'. The following day Mat revealed he woke up and found himself in the same room but there was no one around. 'I was in a fair bit of pain, and I was late for work. I told my dad, I said, "I think I've just been raped", and he ignored it,' he revealed. Mat received a call the day after the tragic ordeal informing him he had landed a role on Neighbours. He eventually became a household name when he starred on Channel Seven soap Home and Away in the nineties, playing the role of Adam Cameron. But he shocked fans when he left the long-running soap after five years and 500 episodes. In 2019, Mat revealed the real reason he left acting was for love. 'After I left Home and Away, I travelled for three years and when I came back I was 27. I met a woman that I loved and we wanted a family,' he told The Daily Telegraph. 'And with that comes responsibility so I sought out some secure work and that's the government role I have been working in ever since.' Mat has been investigating identity theft for the government since 2001. He and his wife share two two daughters, aged 24 and 21. During this TV career, the Victorian-born actor also had roles on Blue Heelers, MDA, City Homicide and Offspring. He still dabbles in acting, with Mat playing the character of Mike in a the 2021 drama film, A Small Punch In a Little Town. The film, directed by former Blue Heelers producer Luke Robson, is about a young man who coward punches an outsider visiting a small community. For confidential support call the Lifeline 24-hour crisis support on 13 11 14
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Explosive claims emerge about Outback Wrangler Matt Wright in court after fatal helicopter crash
A pilot who survived a deadly helicopter crash has detailed lies he told investigators after deleting phone messages, saying he was in a 'very bad way' at the time with life-changing injuries. Sebastian Robinson is a paraplegic after the crash in February 2022 that killed Outback Wrangler co-star Chris 'Willow' Wilson in Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory. Mr Robinson is giving evidence in the Supreme Court in Darwin at the trial of reality TV star Matt Wright, who has pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice. Prosecutors allege the helicopter operator was worried crash investigators would discover flight-time meters were regularly disconnected to extend flying hours beyond official thresholds and that paperwork was falsified. Under questioning from senior defence counsel for Wright, David Edwardson KC, Mr Robinson admitted he had lied to Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigators around the same time. Among the lies were that, before the crash, the helicopter was functioning well and that he was busy with the role of maintenance controller at Wright's Helibrook company, when in fact he held the position in name only. Mr Robinson admitted saying there had only been a spark plug issue with the helicopter when 'there were many more problems with the aircraft.' He said his condition hindered his proper judgment at the time. 'I was in a very bad way.' The 32-year-old told the jury on Tuesday he had fractures of his vertebrae, resulting in a complete severance of his spinal cord, rendering him a paraplegic. Both his lungs were punctured, his left elbow and ankles were fractured, and he suffered a traumatic brain injury that still causes him cognition problems and mood swings. Mr Edwardson has previously alleged that, in the lead-up to the crash, Mr Robinson was a cocaine-using 'party animal' who was 'hopeless' at flight record keeping. The court on Wednesday heard Mr Robinson had done contract work with Indigenous groups in Arnhem Land, including Aboriginal rangers. Under questioning by Mr Edwardson, Mr Robinson agreed it was 'unforgivable' to supply alcohol or illegal drugs to Indigenous communities where liquor was banned. 'There might have been the occasion I'd have a very small amount of alcohol under the seat of the helicopter, but I wasn't supplying a commercial amount,' he said. The court heard Wright visited Mr Robinson in Royal Brisbane Hospital when he was heavily sedated with 'tubes coming out of me everywhere.' Crown prosecutor Jason Gullaci SC asked Mr Robinson what Wright had requested of him at his hospital bedside, and he replied 'to manipulate hours on my aircraft.' 'He asked if I would consider putting any of his hours, from his helicopter, onto my helicopter.' The court was told Mr Robinson was being asked to put egg-collecting hours flown on Wright's crashed helicopter onto his helicopter, which was not fitted with equipment for egg collecting. Mr Robinson said he told Wright on a return visit the next day that 'I didn't feel comfortable doing it.' The court was told Mr Robinson was asked to fly egg-collecting missions in Arnhem Land, where COVID restrictions were in place, because Wright was an anti-vaxxer and could not enter the Indigenous territory. Jurors heard Wright visited Mr Robinson in hospital despite requirements to show a COVID vaccination certificate and having to complete a test for the virus. The charges against Wright do not relate to the cause of the accident, and the prosecution does not allege he is responsible for either the crash, Mr Wilson's death, or Mr Robinson's injuries. The trial continues.
The Independent
5 hours ago
- The Independent
Qatar sentences the country's Baha'i leader to 5 years for social media posts
The leader of the small Baha'i community in Qatar was sentenced Wednesday to five years in prison for social media posts that allegedly 'cast doubt on the foundations of the Islamic religion,' according to an international Baha'i organization monitoring the case. A three-judge panel of Qatar's Supreme Judiciary Council issued the verdict against Remy Rowhani, 71, who has been detained since April, according to documentation provided to The Associated Press by the Baha'i International Community office in Geneva, Switzerland. The judges rejected a defense request for leniency on grounds that Rowhani suffered from a heart condition, according to the documentation. Saba Haddad, the BIC office's representative to the United Nations, depicted the verdict as 'a serious breach and grave violation of the right to freedom of religion or belief and an attack on Remy Rowhani and the Baha'i community in Qatar.' There was no immediate response from Qatar's International Media Office to AP's queries about the case. The verdict came just two weeks after a group of U.N. human rights experts expressed 'serious concern' about Rowhani's arrest and detention, which they depicted as 'part of a broader and disturbing pattern of disparate treatment of the Baha'i minority in Qatar.' 'The mere existence of Baha'is in Qatar and their innocuous presence on X cannot be criminalized under international law,' they said. Rowhani — former head of Qatar's Chamber of Commerce — had been arrested once previously, accused of offenses such as routine fundraising related to his leadership of Qatar's Baha'i National Assembly. The latest charges, filed in April, involve the Baha'i community's X and Instagram accounts, which contain posts about Qatari holidays and Baha'i writings. According to the documentation provided by the Geneva office, Qatari prosecutors alleged that these accounts 'promoted the ideas and beliefs of a religious sect that raises doubt about the foundations and teachings of the Islamic religion.' The Baha'i faith — a small but global religion with an interfaith credo — fits comfortably into the religious spectrum of most countries but in several Middle East nations, Baha'i followers face repression that is drawing criticism from rights groups. The abuse is most evident in Iran, which bans the faith and has been widely accused of persecuting Baha'i followers, human rights advocates say. They also report systemic discrimination in Yemen, Qatar and Egypt. Advocates say Iran's government has pressed for repression of the Baha'i followers in countries where it holds influence, such as Yemen, where Iran-backed Houthi rebels control the northern half of the country, and Qatar, which shares with Iran the world's largest natural gas field. The Baha'i faith was founded in the 1860s by Baha'u'llah, a Persian nobleman considered a prophet by his followers. Muslims consider the Prophet Muhammad the highest and last prophet. From the Baha'i faith's earliest days, Shiite Muslim clerics have denounced its followers as apostates. That repression continued after Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution, when many Baha'i followers were executed or went missing. There are less than 8 million Baha'i believers worldwide, with the largest number in India. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
