Jubilation as LionMama is set free
Daughter’s ‘rapist’ killed by mother
There was jubilation outside court minutes after criminal charges were withdrawn against an Eastern Cape woman who stabbed to death a man and wounded two others she allegedly caught gang raping her daughter.
The woman, 56, said she was overwhelmed by the support she had received from South Africans. She stabbed the alleged rapists on September 2 at an unoccupied house in Qumbu in Zwartwater near Komani.
LionMama, as the mother has been nicknamed, was arrested and released on R500 bail. Yesterday, the murder and attempted murder charges against the woman, who cannot be named to protect the identity of her alleged rape victim daughter, were withdrawn by the Lady Frere Magistrate’s
Court. The courtroom where she appeared was packed to capacity as magistrate
Bala Mhlanga announced that the charges against her would not be pursued anymore.
This was after prosecutor Fikile Seti told the magistrate that the director of public prosecutions had instructed that charges against the woman be withdrawn. No reasons were given in court.
Addressing hundreds of supporters, the mother said she never knew that she would receive the emotional and financial support she and her family had received.
“I felt like an old baboon with no friends, but today you showed me that I was not alone. Thank you for the support. I am happy that the charges against me have been withdrawn.
“I thought I was going to jail, but God was on my side,” the mother said.
Cape Town resident Natalie Kendric was touched when she read the story in Sowetan’s sister publication the Daily Dispatch’s Twitter page and set up a crowd funding initiative on her Facebook and Twitter accounts.
As a result 198 people heeded the call and donated R133 356.30 towards the mother’s legal costs and psychological needs. Lawyers also lined up and offered to represent her pro bono.
Her attorney Buhle Tonise said the money raised would be used for her wellbeing.
“She and her daughter still need to go for counselling,” Tonise said.