A 48-year-old man appeared in Mankweng Magistrate’s Court on Monday for the brutal murder of his 14-year-old stepdaughter after a domestic dispute with her mother.
The accused, Andrew Mehlape, allegedly attacked and fatally stabbed Rebotile Mothapo at Ga-Thoka village, located outside the Mankweng policing precinct in Limpopo’s Capricorn district.
The tragic incident occurred in the early hours of Friday, March 13, 2025, while the teenager was on her way to school.
Shocking Attack Near Sports Ground
Provincial police spokesperson, Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, stated that the accused ambushed the young girl near the Ga-Thoka sports ground and launched a violent assault, stabbing her multiple times with a sharp object.
“According to the police report, the victim was walking to school with a fellow learner when the stepfather approached, attacked, and stabbed her multiple times, leaving her helpless on the road,” Ledwaba said.
Authorities were quickly alerted to the attack. Upon arrival, police discovered the teenager lying in a pool of blood, still dressed in her school uniform.
Emergency medical personnel were called to the scene, but she was pronounced dead on arrival.
Suspect Arrested After Police Search
Following the incident, police immediately launched a search operation for the suspect. He was later tracked down and arrested in Polokwane.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect had been involved in a domestic dispute with the victim’s mother the day before,” Ledwaba confirmed.
Authorities Condemn Gender-Based Violence
Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, the provincial police commissioner of Limpopo, strongly condemned the horrific act, describing it as a disturbing case of domestic and gender-based violence.
The case has sparked widespread outrage, with calls for justice as the investigation continues.
