‘Lion Mama’ who stabbed three men she caught gang-raping her daughter, killing one of them, says she is delighted after the survivors are jailed for 30 years in South Africa
- Woman, 57, ran nearly two miles to save 27-year-old daughter from a gang rape
- She stabbed one of the attackers to death and seriously injured two others
- Charges against the woman, dubbed ‘Lion Mama’ were dropped after campaign
- The two surviving rapists have now been jailed for 30 years in South Africa
A South African woman who stabbed a man to death and seriously injured two others when she caught them gang-raping her daughter has seen the survivors sent to prison.
The 57-year-old – who was dubbed ‘Lion Mama’ for the way she defended her daughter – said she was ‘delighted’ when a judge jailed them both for 30 years.
The mother had been preparing an evening meal for her daughter at her home in a village near Zwartwater in Eastern Province, South Africa, when a friend burst in.
She told her that three men had snatched her 27-year-old daughter and dragged her into a building and that she had seen them strip her off her clothing.
Defender: The 57-year-old stabbed one of the rapists to death and seriously injured the two others when she caught them assaulting her daughter (file picture)
When the ‘Lion Mama’ could not get a reply from the local police station, she picked up the kitchen knife she had been using to prepare vegetables and set off to save her daughter.
She ran nearly two miles as her daughter’s friend pointed out the way and when she got close to the house, she heard her daughter’s desperate screams coming from inside.
The mother burst through the door and caught three naked men taking turns in raping her daughter.
She killed Zamile Siyeka in a hail of knife blows and seriously injured Zolisa Siyeka, 24, and Mncedisi Vuba, 31, who both collapsed to the floor in pools of blood.
The mother then comforted her distraught daughter until paramedics arrived. They certified one man dead and took the survivors to hospital.
The mother was dubbed Lion Mama for rescuing her daughter and killing one of her rapists, but there was outrage in South Africa when she was charged with murder.
She was also charged with two counts of attempted murder of the surviving rapists.
A fighting fund raised nearly £10,000 for her defence and a lawyer offered his services for free – but three weeks later the National Prosecuting Authority dropped the charge.
The gang rape, that shocked South Africa, happened in September last year.
Siyeka and Vuba were convicted of raping the mother’s daughter at Mtatha High Court and were both sentenced to 30 years behind bars – each with five years suspended.
Prosecutors at Lady Frere Magistrates Court said two of the men who survived the stabbing would still stand trial for rape (file image)
Judge Mbulelo Jolwana said the fact that the mother had inflicted serious injuries on them with a knife had taught them a lesson and saved them from a life sentence.
After the rapists were led away the ‘Lion Mama’ told local media: ‘I am happy about the judgement and relieved. All I want is for people who do wrong to be punished.
‘The truth finally came out and even if it was my own child who had done a serious crime then I would want them to get punished for doing something wrong and bad.
‘All I wanted to do was protect my daughter and when I answered the call from her friend I didn’t want to believe she was being raped and hoped it was a mistake.
‘I could not believe it when I got there because – even the one who has died who was doing this to my daughter – I doubted that he could do something like this.
‘What is killing me spiritually inside is that the girl who was trying to save my daughter has been blamed for the death to the extent that she tried to take her own life.
‘I hope social workers find a safe place for her so 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 received from across the country.
She added: ‘It means there are a lot of people out there with good hearts who are on my side and I truly appreciate all the support we have got and it makes us strong.
‘I would have thrown myself to a lion to protect my daughter and I am sure many mothers would have done the same. I hope this is a lesson people learn from.’
The desperately poor woman, who lives in a tiny two room shack with her daughter and grand-daughter, said she would use money donated to secure their home.
In total, 110 rapes are reported in South Africa every day, but experts believe the true figure could be as much as four times higher, with many too scared to report it.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Luxolo Tyali said: ‘We would have liked a life sentence but this sends a message to men this festive season not to rape women.’