It was supposed to be an ordinary Friday morning.
A mother with her baby in arms, standing quietly at the roadside. Waiting. Just like anyone else. The taxi was coming. But before she could even breathe a sigh of relief, her past came roaring down the road – this time behind the wheel of a van, and this time, not just angry… but deadly.
In Segopye Village, Limpopo, silence now speaks louder than any scream. A 13-month-old baby girl is dead. Her mother – broken, battered, and bleeding – lies in a hospital bed at Mankweng Hospital. And the man accused of turning love into murder is behind bars.
No one saw the final blow coming. But we all felt it.
Read also: The Last Taxi Ride of a Limpopo Woman Before GBV Turned It Into a Scene of Horror
A Crime of Control, Not Passion
The suspect, 35, had reportedly been in a relationship with the woman – the baby’s mother – not long ago. But like many stories of domestic violence, this one didn’t end with separation. It ended with rage, control, and one fatal blow. According to police, the two had a heated argument right there at the roadside while the mother waited for transport. The suspect left, only to chase after her once she and her baby boarded a taxi heading to Marothi Cross.
As she stepped off the taxi, the van didn’t stop.
It didn’t hesitate.
And the wheels did not show mercy.
Police say the man drove over both mother and child at high speed. It wasn’t an accident. It was intention. And that intention ended a life not even two years old.
“I Heard Screams, Then the Baby Wasn’t Moving”
Eyewitnesses say it was chaos. A loud screech. A mother’s scream. A baby’s body lying still. Bystanders rushed the two to Mankweng Hospital. But for the baby, it was already too late.
The mother sustained serious injuries to her leg – but the wounds that may never heal are the ones in her heart.
Her baby girl is gone.
And the reason?
He couldn’t let go.
Read also: “We Told Her to Leave Him” – Limpopo Aunt Breaks Down as Another Woman Falls to GBV
A Limpopo in Crisis: “Mankweng Mirrors SA’s GBV Disaster”
This isn’t just about one man. Or one woman. Or even one village.
This is about a country drowning in the blood of its women and children.
Johannes Rapulana, the Provincial Secretary of the Men’s Sector in Limpopo, told Daily Sun that Mankweng continues to see rising rates of gender-based violence (GBV). And it’s not random. It’s systemic.
“This is a call for concern. We need coordinated efforts – police, social workers, community leaders – all of us,” Rapulana said.
He’s right. Because right now, it's not enough.
A Court Date That Can’t Bring Her Back
The suspect is set to appear in the Mankweng Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 28 July, on charges of murder and attempted murder. But while legal justice might follow, the emotional damage is irreparable.
The community is grieving. The baby never saw her second birthday. The mother – robbed not just of her child, but of her peace, her dignity, and her future – must now face recovery with a limp… and a void.
And yet, these stories continue.
How Many More?
South Africa has laws. It has campaigns. It has hashtags.
But what it doesn’t have is enough action.
The Limpopo Department of Social Development has been called in to support the family. Community members are lighting candles, saying prayers, and demanding justice. But we’ve done this before. Over and over.
Until the systems change. Until men change. Until consequences are immediate and community interventions are serious – this will not stop.
Not in Limpopo. Not in Gauteng. Not in South Africa.
And certainly, not today.
Read also: Inside the Mind of a Killer: What Drives Men to Kill Women in SA?
👥 Join the Conversation
Do you think the current South African GBV laws are tough enough?
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Yes, but implementation is weak
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No, we need stronger punishment
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It’s not just laws, it’s society that must change
💬 Leave your thoughts below or vote in the poll. We’re listening.
Why We Must Keep Talking
This isn't just another blog post.
It's a scream. A plea. A reminder.
A 13-month-old baby girl paid the price for one man’s rage. But we – all of us – pay the price when we allow these stories to fade into just another line of news.
Keep the conversation going.
Read more, speak out, and protect those who need your voice when theirs is silenced.
Read also: Here’s Where to Get Help If You’re in an Abusive Relationship – Government Services Near You
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For more real-time GBV updates, statistics, and free counselling services, visit https://www.thuthuzela.org.za/ – an official government-linked program designed to support survivors.
Tags: #GBV #LimpopoTragedy #Mankweng #SouthAfricaNews #DomesticViolence #JusticeForWomen
Sources:
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Government Support GBV Services: www.gov.za
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Limpopo Social Development: www.dsd.limpopo.gov.za
: “Limpopo Mother Loses Baby in Brutal GBV Attack — Community in Shock”
A 13-month-old baby girl was killed in Segopye Village when a man allegedly ran over his ex and their child. The GBV crisis continues to shake South Africa. Read the full story.
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