A mother who stabbed a sex beast to death and seriously
injured two others when she caught them gang raping her daughter in South
Africa has been told she will no longer face a murder charge.
Prosecutors revealed that two other charges of attempted
murder have also been dropped after ruling that there was no realistic chance
of a successful prosecution.
The woman, 56, was dubbed ‘Lion Mama’ for running 3km with a
kitchen knife before stabbing all three attackers until they collapsed after
being told of the attack by a teenage relative of one of the men.
The mother then comforted her daughter until police arrived,
before finding herself under arrest and facing charges.
That led to a huge public backlash and a campaign to
fund her legal fees.
Two lawyers even offered their services for free to defend
the woman – who cannot be named because her daughter is the victim of a sexual
crime – after the incident in September.
Yesterday it was announced that all charges against her were
being officially dropped by the state.
The two surviving men have been charged with rape and will
be in the same court on Wednesday.
Speaking about the horrific ordeal, the mother said she was
alerted to the attack by an 18-year-old cousin of the rapist who was killed.
The mother said she had to run 3km after being told of the
attack in order to stop it.
The distraught mother said she repeatedly called the police
in her home village of Zwartwater in the Eastern Province but it just rang out
with no officer picking up the telephone.
In desperation she picked up a kitchen knife and her friend
led her to the property where she could hear her daughters cries and she burst
in and found her daughter near naked.
The three men who were taking turns gang raping her were
taken completely by surprise as the mother went into a blind rage stabbing all
three men repeatedly until they collapsed.
A South African Police Service source said the blood soaked
mother comforted her daughter until the police were contacted and arrived and
paramedics came to treat her victims.
One man, Zamile Siyeka, was pronounced dead at the scene at
his two accomplices, Xolisa Siyeka and Mncedisi Vuba, were rushed to hospital
suffering from serious injuries.
She also praised the teen as a real hero, saying she is now
in fear of her life after being blamed for the death of her relative and has
attempted suicide.
Overwhelmed by the criticism and threats on her life, she
drank paraffin and bleach.
She survived and is being treated at Frontier Hospital in
Queenstown but is still living in constant fear.
The woman said: ‘All I wanted was to protect my daughter.
When I answered the call from the teenager I did not want to believe my
daughter was being raped and hoped it was a mistake.
‘I could not believe it, because – even the one who has
died, who was doing this to my daughter – I doubted that he could do something
like this.
‘I am really saddened by this. In fact, this is what is
really killing me spiritually inside. That girl was trying to save my
daughter’s life.
‘It is really hurting that she has now been blamed to an
extent that she tried to take her own life.
‘I hope social workers find a safe place for her so that she
can carry on with her studies. I just hope and pray that this is not the end of
her dreams and aspirations.’
The mother has been humbled by the support she is getting
from across the country.
She added: ‘It means there are a lot of people out there
with good hearts who are on my side.
‘I would have thrown myself to a lion to protect my
daughter, and I am sure many mothers would have done the same.
‘I truly appreciate all the support I have been getting. It
has made me strong,’ she said.
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Granddaughter
The woman was hailed a heroine in her home village but there
was huge anger shortly after when she was charged with murder and two attempted
murders and taken before a court.
The desperately poor woman who lives in a tiny two room
shack with her daughter and grand daughter and two others was freed by Lady
Frere Magistrates Court on bail of R500 (£30).
But unable to afford a good defence, a fighting fund was set
up by Cape Town resident Natalie Kendrick to help the Lion Mama with her legal
fees which stands already at R20,000 (£1,175).
Attorney Buhle Tonise came forward and announced she will be
representing the accused mother free of charge after reading about the story in
print and would enter a not guilty plea defence.
She said:’When it comes to being human, it would not be proper
to take any money. The money would be better used for counselling for the
mother and her daughter who are in a fragile state’.
‘It can also be used to build a fence around their home as
safety is a serious problem’ she said.
