Parents Mourn Daughter Lost to Abusive Partner, Plea for Death Penalty Revival

Heartbreak in Mamelodi: Parents Mourn Daughter Lost to Abusive Partner, Plea for Death Penalty Revival

By Mamelodi News Reporter - December 29, 2025

In the quiet streets of Mamelodi's Skierlik section, a family's home stands as a somber reminder of unimaginable loss. Two years after their 20-year-old daughter, Lethabo, was tragically shot and killed in an abusive relationship, her parents are still grappling with grief that refuses to fade. Speaking exclusively to Mamelodi News, the devastated family opened up about their ongoing pain and their desperate call for the government to reinstate the death penalty as a deterrent to the rising tide of violence plaguing South Africa.

Lethabo, born in Limpopo and raised in Mamelodi, was known to her loved ones as a vibrant young woman with dreams of a brighter future. But her life was cut short in 2023 when she visited her Zimbabwean boyfriend in Soshanguve, a neighboring township north of Pretoria. What began as a relationship turned toxic, culminating in a fatal incident that her parents describe as the ultimate betrayal. "She was our light, our hope," her mother said through tears. "We warned her about the signs of abuse, the controlling behavior, the isolation, but we never imagined it would end like this."

According to the family, Lethabo's boyfriend, whose identity has not been publicly disclosed by authorities, allegedly inflicted fatal injuries when he shot Lethabo during a heated altercation. Despite police investigations, the suspect fled and remains at large, believed to have crossed borders or gone into hiding. "He's out there somewhere, living his life while we've lost everything," her father lamented. "How can we find peace when justice feels so out of reach?"

The parents' anguish extends beyond their personal tragedy. They believe Lethabo's death is part of a larger epidemic of gender-based violence (GBV) in South Africa, where women and girls face disproportionate risks. "Every day, we hear stories like ours," her mother added. "If the government brought back the death sentence, maybe people would think twice before taking a life."

South Africa's GBV crisis is indeed staggering. According to a 2024 national study supported by UN Women, more than one in three women, over 35% have experienced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. The Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) echoes this, reporting that 24% of women aged 18 and older have faced intimate partner violence. Femicide rates are particularly alarming: an estimated 15 women are killed daily, often by partners or acquaintances, making South Africa one of the world's hotspots for such crimes. In Gauteng alone, where Mamelodi and Soshanguve are located, thousands of cases are reported annually, though experts say underreporting masks the true scale. 

The family's plea for the death penalty resonates with many South Africans frustrated by escalating crime. Capital punishment was abolished in 1995 by the Constitutional Court, which ruled it violated the right to life and dignity under the post-apartheid Constitution. Despite this, public opinion polls show significant support for its return, with some surveys indicating over half the population in favor amid rising murder rates. However, legal experts argue that reinstatement is unlikely, as it would require constitutional amendments and faces opposition from human rights groups who cite risks of miscarriages of justice. 

For Lethabo's parents, the focus remains on prevention and support. They urge young women to recognize red flags in relationships, such as jealousy, physical intimidation, or emotional manipulation, and to seek help from organizations like the Gender-Based Violence Command Centre (dial 0800 428 428) or local shelters. "We don't want another family to go through this hell," her father said. "The government must do more, stronger laws, better policing, and education to stop abuse before it turns deadly."

As Mamelodi grapples with its own share of violence, stories like Lethabo's highlight the urgent need for community action. The family plans to honor her memory through awareness campaigns, hoping her legacy will save others. In a nation where GBV has been declared a "national disaster,", the question remains: when will enough be enough?