Premier Mabuyane has expressed support following the NPA’s decision to withdraw charges against a mother accused of killing a man she caught raping her child. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has decided to withdraw the charges against the woman after a lengthy trial. This case, which has mixed emotions across the province and the nation, focuses on the upsetting impact of gender-based violence on families and communities has.
Attending the court proceedings at the Lady Frere Magistrate’s Court with MEC for Social Development, Bukiwe Fanta, Premier Mabuyane stated that the situation resonated deeply with South Africans. “While we respect the judiciary and the legal processes involved, we commend the NPA for its sensitivity and understanding of the extreme circumstances surrounding this tragic incident,” he said. “This decision reflects a compassionate acknowledgment of a mother’s instinctive protective actions in a moment of unimaginable trauma.”
Mabuyane repeated the Eastern Cape Government’s commitment to combat gender-based violence, emphasizing that no parent should have to resort to violence to protect their children from sexual harm. “We must ensure our communities are safe spaces for children to grow without fear, and where women are protected,” he said.
Mabuyane called for a united front from all sectors including government, civil society, traditional leaders, and especially men to take active responsibility in ending gender-based violence. He also emphasized the provincial government’s commitment to providing support services for survivors and their families, including trauma counseling and access to social welfare programs.
“This is a crucial moment for our society,” Premier Mabuyane concluded.
