‘Lion Mama’ won’t face charges for killing daughter’s alleged rapist
By Tom Head
A mother’s instinct is so incredibly powerful. When their child is in danger, they become superhuman. This is exactly what happened with an Eastern Cape Mom (dubbed ‘Lion Mama’) when her daughter was allegedly being gang-raped.
The wretched incident took place last month when the mother heard her daughter screaming for help. When she entered her room, it’s reported that she saw three men sexual assaulting the 27-year-old woman.
The bravery of ‘Lion Mama’
Lion Mama – who is still not allowed to be named – says she instinctively reacted, and fought off all of the men involved in the rape. When they tried to over power her, she was able to stab one of the assailants, fatally wounding him in the process.
In an incredible turn of events, the National Prosecuting Authority declined to proceed with the case against the mother as they said their chances of a successful prosecution were negligible.
Sandy McCowen, an eNCA reporter who was covering proceedings from the court, described what happens with Lion Mama now. She revealed that, despite her confession, there is ‘no likelihood’ that the prosecution can win this case.
“This is the final thing for her. The prosecution have looked at the case and the evidence involved. There is no likelihood that they can win this case, so therefore, they have struck this case off the roll.”
Community rallies round mother and daughter
The mother and her traumatized daughter have received an overwhelming amount of support since the incident. Initially, they were both threatened by family and friends of the men she wreaked revenge upon.
However, a crowdfunding page helped Lion Mama pay her bail, ease legal worries and even resulted in her receiving donations to renovate her house. The community spirit culminated in the mom receiving a huge cheer in the courtroom when she was allowed to go free.
The two other men mauled by the Lion are still in custody. They will now have their case heard in High Court. They are both expected to plead for bail.
Considering the mother and daughter were threatened by the families of the rapists, bail must be denied.
Eastern Cape, SA
Murder charge and jail sentence looms over 17-year-old girl who fought off her ‘potential rapist’
By Tom Head
Image Credits: Barry Viljoen
The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was on her way to a local tavern when she was attacked, according to the police.
In the subsequent struggle, the teenager managed to overpower the man she accuses of trying to rape her, stabbing the 21-year-old assailant to death in a bid to escape.
She then handed herself into the authorities of Lenyenye (Northern Limpopo), who had no choice but to charge her with the murder. Appearing in court, she was not asked to make a plea.
Police Colonel Moatshe Ngoepe stated that she was ‘visibly distraught’ upon arriving at the station, and can be assured that she will receive the ‘necessary care’ to cope with the situation.
The case has caused one hell of a moral dilemma. South Africa’s poor record on rape and recent rise in violence against women has elevated it out of any normal context, according to legal expert Mannie Wits
“When looking at a self-defence plea, the court broadly uses the test of what the reasonable man or woman would do in a similar situation”.
“The test of what a reasonable man in [for example], the UK would do in a similar situation to a man in South Africa is not the same. South Africans are living under fear, they overreact. This is not a normal society.”
BBC News correspondent Pumza Fihlani went past the moral debate and weighed up the legal implications of the 17-year-old’s situation:
“The country’s laws on self-defence have faced criticism in the past, with some legal analysts saying the law should offer more support to those forced to fight off attacks in a society with a high crime rate.
But some legal scholars have argued it is precisely because of this high crime rate that people should not be able to kill others with impunity and self-defense pleas should face high hurdles.”
That makes absolutely no sense whatsoever! Ideals are great but they are of little use if you're being raped or murdered.
Due to the defendant still being a minor, she will be assigned social worker and a trauma counsellor to help her prepare for her case.
Unfortunately, this case happened in early June, 2017, and I cannot find anything more recent. She was to appear in court on June 14th, but these is nothing on the internet that I can find since then.
If anyone can update me on this, I would appreciate that.
Limpopo, SA
The astonishing attitudes of South African men
toward rape
South Africa has one of the highest rates of violence towards women in the world and while there has been a decline in reported rapes from 2009 to last year, the true extent of the problem is not known.
The 2015/16 crime stats had 42 595 rapes reported. It’s a scary stat.
Back in 2013, SkyNews put together a “snapshot” view of men’s attitudes towards rape. Their answers, in some cases, are chilling. Sky spoke to 38 men out of which as many as 28 said that they had raped a woman – some more than once. Some even explained how and why.
The news organisation admits that their method was “unscientific”, but the answers are still harrowing.
Here are some of the answers.
Respondent number one – aged 34
Q: Did you have sex with a woman who didn’t want to?
A: Yes
Q: When was it?
A: 2011
Q: Would you call it rape?
A: Yes
Q: How many times have you raped someone?
A: Twice
Q: How did it happen?
A: We were having some beers in a tavern and I spent (money on) the lady but when (the) time arrived (to) go she refused. I had to use manpower to take her with me. We never got to my place so I decided to rape her. The second time it was the same woman again, we met at a shebeen and we had beers together, when she decided to leave the place I escorted her and along the way I raped her.
Q: Did she report the case?
A: No.
Q: Do you know why?
A: She told me that though I raped her what she has I now also have it.
Q: What did she mean by that?
A: She meant she was HIV positive.
Respondent number three – aged 38
Q: Have you ever had sex with a woman who didn’t want to?
A: Yes
Q: How did it happen?
A: I always wanted the woman but because (I) am ugly and I knew that if I (tried) to (proposition) her she (would refuse) … unless I have a lot of money to buy her. I knew where she lived and traced her movements and how many people she lived with in her shack, but I found out that her boyfriend only came (back at) month ends. I went to her place Friday night and it was raining so it helped me attack her well as no one else could hear me. I used a bolt cutter to gain entry, wielding a butcher knife. I told her not to scream until I leave her place.
Q: Did she open a (police) case?
A: I don’t know because I never got arrested for the rape.
Respondent number eight – aged 39
Q: Have you ever had sex with a woman who didn’t want to?
A: Yes
Q: How did it happen?
A: My ex-girlfriend’s sister lived with us in the same shack and when (I was) off her sister would be at work, so we watched TV together. I asked and promised to buy her expensive shoes if she slept with me. She refused and I forced myself on her and told her that if she talked about it I would chase both her (and) her sister, so she kept quiet.
Q: How do you feel whenever you see her after you did this?
A: I feel nothing bad about it.
Q: Why not?
A: I supported her at my place and I deserved to ask for a favour too.
Q: Do you call it rape?
A: No.
Q: But you forced yourself on her?
A: Yes.
Respondent number 11 – aged 26
Q: Have you ever had sex with a woman who didn’t want to?
A: Yes.
Q: When?
A: 2013.
Q: How did happen?
A: We are a gang and we steal and rape women. This year (in) February we went out, seven of us, to a busy tavern to rob people on the street and rape women. At about 12pm the woman walked out of the tavern alone going to an outside toilet. We followed her, three of us, and raped her.
Q: What happened after the rape?
A: We moved out of the area for a while but until now nothing has ever happened to us.
Q: Were you doing it for the first time?
A: No.
Q: What do you think about what you do to women?
A: We are gangsters and we love it.
Q: Don’t you think you could be caught and thrown in jail?
A: We aren’t afraid of prison.
Respondent number 12 – aged 34
Q: Have you ever slept with a woman who didn’t want to?
A: Yes
Q: When did it happen?
A: 2000
Q: How did it happen?
A: Fridays we went out to chill and drink some beers … after hours me and my friend we saw a young good-looking woman who was drunk on the street, we took her to our place and (raped) her in our shack for an hour. This became a habit and every Friday we made sure that we hung on at the tavern to pick up girls who were drinking after hours.
Q: How many times have you raped a woman?
A: Five times.
Q: Have you ever been arrested for any rape?
A: Once.
Q: Did you serve time for it?
A: Yes.
Q: How long?
A: Six years.
Q: Do you think it’s the right thing to do?
A: Why do women go to taverns in mini-skirts?
Q: What do you think they want?
A: To be raped.
Respondent number 16 – aged 38
Q: Have you ever slept with a woman who did not want to?
A: Yes
Q: How did it happen?
A: From a street bash where we all had … alcohol and slept at my friend’s apartment with three other girls who (were) friends of my friend’s girlfriend. This is where I took a chance after seeing that this other (person) was completely drunk.
Q: Were you doing this for the first time?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you call this rape?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you know people who do the same?
A: A lot of them.
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