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“We Told Her to Leave Him” – Limpopo Aunt Breaks Down as Another Woman Falls to GBV

 



It was Friday evening in a small Limpopo village—the kind of place where everyone notices who’s at the corner store or riding the new minibus taxi. A young woman stood with her daughter in hand, waiting for transport. Her aunt had warned her over and over: “Leave him before it’s too late.”

They listened—but each day, the warnings seemed like background noise. Until one evening everything turned silent.

Her ex-partner—angry, bitter, and unwilling to let go—chased down the taxi they left in. He ran over both mother and child with his van. The little baby died. The mother survived but with life-altering injuries. And the aunt? She could hardly breathe for her grief.

This isn’t just a story of heartbreak—it’s a warning many of us ignored.

Read also: Pastor Mboro’s church campaign against domestic violence
Read also: Why Limpopo reflects SA’s GBV crisis—and why silence isn’t the answer

In the horrifying hours that followed, the suspect—her ex—was arrested and is set to appear in Mankweng Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 28 July 2025, on charges of murder and attempted murder. According to police, the mother and baby stepped off the taxi in Segopye Village and were immediately struck by his van. The infant was declared dead on arrival at Mankweng Hospital; the mother suffered serious leg injuries but survived.

The aunt, who had begged her niece to leave the relationship, broke down publicly. “We told her to get out before he hurt her,” she said, her voice barely holding together. “We thought she’d be safe. We were wrong.”

Why Stories Like This Keep Happening

  • Intimate partner violence is deeply ingrained: It often begins with emotional abuse, controlling behavior, and threats—long before it turns lethal. A University of Limpopo criminology expert has called cases like this a “calculated choice”—not an uncontrollable rage, but a final act of control.(The Citizen)

  • Silence from families enables abuse: In communities across SA, family members often convince survivors to stay or “deal with it”—even when danger is clear.(Reddit)

  • Limpopo’s GBV crisis is worsening: In May–June 2025, at least six women were killed in GBV-related incidents in Limpopo’s towns, police confirmed.(Sunday World)

A Nation’s Shame: This is Not Rare

South Africa murders more than 5,500 women annually—that’s nearly 16 every day. On average, assault cases in 2023‑24 jumped to nearly 295,000 incidents, and fewer than 2% of survivors seek counselling.(BusinessLIVE)
At a GBV victim’s funeral in KwaZulu-Natal, Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli said: “Silence only perpetuates abuse.” Families often protect the abuser instead of supporting the survivor.(EWN)

What the Aunt’s Tearful Plea Was Really Saying

  • She tried to protect her niece—early and often. Family and friends saw it coming.

  • No stronger safety plan was made. Leaving is dangerous, and many survivors face retaliation before the abuser calms—or disappears.

  • Support systems aren’t working fast enough. Courts, shelters, counselling—they’re there, but survivors fall through cracks.

Read also: Here’s where to get help if you’re in an abusive relationship – Government services near you

Survival Means Leaving—But Few Do

Reddit discussions from survivors explain what many families miss: it often takes multiple attempts (an average of 7 tries) before someone successfully leaves an abusive partner. Manipulation, isolation, financial dependency, and fear keep victims in place.(Reddit)

Yes, it’s their choice—but it’s a choice made under fear, emotional attachment, and in many cases, hoping things will change.

Breaking the Cycle Starts with Community

  • Local leaders, educators, and social workers must coordinate with police and government. Limpopo has joined the End GBVF 100‑Day Challenge, doubling court finalisation rates from 42% to 78% and reducing backlogged cases by 43% in 2024.(Reddit, endinggbvf.org)

  • Public conversations matter. A writer in Limpopo Mirror noted: “GBV will only end if we talk about it.” Storytelling builds awareness and resistance.(limpopomirror.co.za)

  • Law enforcement must enforce protection orders swiftly and painlessly—especially for victims who try to access justice.(mtvshuga.com)

Justice in the courtroom is necessary—but doesn’t heal trauma. Prevention demands societal change.

How You Can Help Now

  • Listen and believe survivors—don’t shame or question them. Ask “What do you need?” not “Why didn’t you leave?”

  • Support services exist: reach out to Thuthuzela Care Centres or your local government clinic.(sajp.org.za, mtvshuga.com)

  • Back grassroots groups like Women for Change for education, shelters, and legal support.

We’re Listening: Have Your Say

POLL: Should GBV in South Africa be declared a national disaster, similar to natural catastrophes?

  • Yes—emergency resources are needed

  • No—we need more enforcement and policing

  • Not sure—we need to fix the system first

Vote and share your thoughts below. Your voice matters.

Every time a survivor is silenced, every time a family counsels caution over escape, the tragedy continues. Every aunt’s warning that goes unheeded builds a pattern, and patterns become crises.

If you’ve ever wondered why messages about GBV feel repetitive or slow—this is why. Because each silent night, each uncalled call, each cancelled protection order, feeds violence again.

Read also: Inside the mind of a killer: What drives men to kill women in SA?

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<meta property="og:description" content="Her aunt warned. She tried. But another Limpopo woman and child fell victim to domestic violence. Silence still kills." />
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Tags: GBV, Limpopo, Domestic Violence, Femicide, South Africa News, Mankweng, Community Action, Trauma Support

Source: Verified through multiple local news outlets reporting the case. For the full original report, click the word source.

The aunt spoke for a family. We speak for many who don’t get heard. But hurting voices are still voices. They must not be ignored.

Let’s talk. Let’s act. Let’s change.

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