SHE KILLED to save her daughter but she is free to go her own way.
People in court erupted with joy as all charges against the Lion Mama were dropped.
And Mzansi has joined them to celebrate the triumph of justice over evil.
Yesterday morning, residents, mostly women, of the tiny town of Lady Frere in the Eastern Cape, braved the pouring rain and marched for the mum to be freed.
And by 10am, Advocate Levina van Zyl told magistrate Mhlanga Bala that the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions had declined to prosecute the mum on a charge of murder and two charges of attempted murder.
It also recommended the magistrate consider holding a formal inquest into the death of the one suspect.
This meant the magistrate had no choice but to strike the case off the roll.
The 56-year-old mum from Qumbu Village, Zwartwater was declared a free woman.
Last month, the mum, who can’t be named, told her story to a national radio station.
She said on the night of 2 September she got a call from her mother saying that her daughter was being raped by three boys.
She grabbed a knife and went to the house.
“I could hear my daughter screaming in the dark house. I rushed in by the light of my cellphone and screamed at them,” she said.
“The one ran towards me with a knife and I stabbed him. The second one pushed me down but he tripped and I stabbed him too. The third tried to jump through the window but I chased after him and stabbed him as well.”
She told the community to call the cops to arrest her and to get an ambulance for the boys, as her work was done.
After her arrest, social media erupted with support.
She was even given the name Lion Mama, and a fund was set up to help her financially.
Speaking to the SunTeam on the phone some hours after she was freed, the mum said her daughter is much better and has been seeing a psychologist in East London.
“We are overwhelmed by the support we received from people across the country. I am especially grateful to my community for supporting me until today,” she said. “I don’t regret anything I did.”
The two surviving rape accused are due in court on 12 October and are expected to apply for bail.
Speaking on behalf of the Sonke Gender Justice organisation, Patrick Godwana said this was a victory for all women.
“The outcome of this case answered the silent prayers of many victims who suffer in silence.”
Lindelwa Ntlonze of the SA Local Government Association’s Women’s Caucus, and Nomandla Breakfast of the Moral Regeneration Movement, called it a victory for all women. They hoped the suspects would spend a long time in jail.
MEC for Social Development in the Eastern Cape, Nancy Sihlwayi, said: “This was long overdue.” She said the abuse of alcohol and drugs among young people is a big problem which needs to be addressed.
