South African man stabs his 14-year-old stepdaughter to death after domestic dispute with her motherSouth African man stabs his 14-year-old stepdaughter to death after domestic dispute with her mother

A 48-year-old man appeared at Mankweng Magistrate’s Court in South Africa on Monday for the brutal m8rder of his 14-year-old daughter after a domestic dispute with her mother. 

The accused, Andrew Mehlape, stabbed Rebotile Mothapo, to death at Ga-Thoka village, outside the Mankweng policing precinct, in the Capricorn district of Limpopo.

The horrific incident happened in the early hours of Friday, March 13, 2025, while the victim was on her way to school.

Provincial police spokesperson, Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said the accused approached the young girl near the Ga-Thako sports ground and launched a vicious attack, stabbing her multiple times with a sharp object. 

“According to the police report, the victim was on her way to school, accompanied by her fellow learner, when the stepfather approached, attacked, and stabbed her several times with a sharp object and left her helplessly on the road,” said Ledwaba.

Police were subsequently informed about the attack. On their arrival, police found the teenage victim lying in a pool of blood, still wearing her school uniform.

Emergency medical service personnel were called to the scene, and they certified the victim d3ad.

“The police activated a search operation for the suspect immediately, and he was located in Polokwane where he was apprehended,” said Ledwaba.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect had a domestic dispute with the deceased’s mother the previous day.”

Meanwhile, the provincial commissioner of police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, has “strongly” condemned the domestic violence-related and gender-based violence incident.