Johannesburg - “If only my daughter was still alive,” said an emotional Nomathemba Janki, who on Tuesday came face to face with her cousin, the woman who allegedly stabbed her 3-year-old daughter 99 times.
The mother was talking outside the Odendaalsrus Magistrate’s Court in the Free State, where Nompucuko Mavis Mahamo made her second appearance for allegedly killing Karabo Nale.
Janki arrived in court with her younger sister, Mimi Mokoteli, and some residents of Kutlwanong township, where the murder took place earlier this month.
Mokoteli, who has moved in with Janki, said: “She is still in pain. She misses Karabo. While we sleep at night, she sits all by herself in the dark thinking of her daughter. She refuses to eat, and drinks only water to sustain herself.”
Her daughter’s body was discovered by a herder in an open veld, where he also found a packet of Nik Naks and sweets next to her. Her face was covered with a jersey.
The girl had started crèche this year.
It is alleged that Mahamo, who lived under the same roof as Karabo, had taken the girl to the shops, but they never returned home.
At the time of her arrest, police said the 21-year- old woman was in possession of an Okapi knife with bloodstains and two used white candles.
Her clothes had bloodstains.
She was arrested three days later by members of the Odendaalsrus Crime Prevention Unit.
Mahamo is facing a schedule 6 offence and has been charged with premeditated murder.
The case was postponed on Tuesday to August 6 to allow the accused to go for mental observation at the Free State Psychiatric Complex.
The court heard that statements obtained from the accused’s family alleged that Mahamo suffered from mental illnesses.
However, Mahamo would know only during her next appearance whether a bed has been secured for her.
The Star