A 27-year-old man from Manyatseng, near Ladybrand in the Free State, is in police custody following the alleged murder of his 51-year-old biological mother. He is expected to appear before the Ladybrand Magistrate Court on Thursday, 3 July 2025, to face a charge of murder.
The arrest follows an incident on 1 July 2025, at approximately 08:50, when police were called to a murder scene at Platberg Informal Settlement near Ladybrand. Upon arrival, officers discovered the body of a 51-year-old woman inside her shack, bearing visible bruises on her face.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the suspect may have assaulted his mother after reprimanding her for making noise in her bedroom shack. However, the exact cause of death remains undetermined, pending the results of a postmortem examination.
Police spokesperson, Assistant Officer Mmako Mophiring, confirmed the arrest, stating that the 27-year-old man was apprehended at the scene. A case of murder is currently under investigation.
The Limpopo case has left the community of Sebora village, west of Polokwane, reeling in shock and disbelief. Lesiba David Ledwaba appeared briefly in the Seshego magistrate’s court on Monday, following the discovery of his mother, Raisibe Ledwaba's, dismembered body at their home. He has been remanded in custody and is due back in court on July 9 for his formal bail application.
The horrific crime came to light after concerned neighbours raised the alarm, having not seen Raisibe for several days. Their concerns prompted a search that ultimately led to the discovery of the gruesome scene.
According to Ledwaba’s neighbour, Shirley Legodi, they became concerned when they had not seen Raisibe for two days, prompting a search. “We asked him about his mother’s whereabouts, but he kept on giving us contradictory statements. We became suspicious and called the police. When the police arrived, they found the old woman cut into pieces and the son became the prime suspect. As the police were combing the crime scene, a bloodied hacksaw and axe believed to be used during the butchering were found,” she said.
Limpopo provincial police spokesperson, Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, provided further details, stating: “Police on the afternoon of Saturday, 28 June 2025, responded to the complaint of a missing person from a neighbour who was worried that the 87-year-old was not seen for over two days.”
Colonel Ledwaba continued: "Upon investigation, they were met by a very disturbing scene, where they discovered the woman’s dismembered body parts placed inside the plastic buckets. Several items that were allegedly used in the commission of the crime were also found at the scene.”
Lesiba Ledwaba was arrested immediately after he could not give police a satisfactory explanation of the gruesome act. “The motive behind this senseless murder is still being investigated by the police,” said Colonel Ledwaba.
As police combed the crime scene, they found a bloodied hacksaw and axe, believed to be the implements used in the horrific dismemberment.
During his court appearance, Ledwaba initially stated that he did not require a legal representative. However, after the seriousness of the charge was explained to him, he changed his mind and agreed to be represented by a legal aid lawyer when he returns to court on July 9 for his formal bail application.
Tragically, family members have revealed that this was not an isolated incident, and that Lesiba had a history of abusing his mother.
Speaking to Sowetan after the court proceedings, family spokesperson Ramokone Mothapo said it was known among close relatives that Lesiba had a tendency of harassing his mother when he was angry. “For many years we knew that Lesiba was abusing his mother, but she [the mother] kept on concealing the abuse. She chose not to report her son to the police as a way of protecting him. He would do so more often when he demanded her pension grant. We tried in vain to intervene, but to him it was just a normal way of communicating with his mother. Lesiba took advantage of his mother's protection until he finally murdered her," Mothapo said.
After the death of Lesiba's two sisters and the migration of his older brother to Gauteng for employment, Lesiba was given the responsibility to taking care of his ailing mother.
The Limpopo provincial department of social development has expressed its concern over the rising number of abuse cases against the elderly in the area.
Department spokesperson Joshua Kwapa said: “We are enraged by this incident because a few weeks ago an elderly person was murdered in that neighbourhood. Women and children are constantly under attack, and when this incident was reported, it was like our campaigns are falling on deaf ears. As the responsibility of our department, we will be send social workers of provide psychosocial support to the bereaved family,” Kwapa said.
Limpopo provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, has strongly condemned the heinous crime. She pointed out that the suspect was expected to protect his mother instead of prematurely cutting her life short.
"The scourge of gender-based violence has reached crisis point. This pandemic needs all sectors of society to join hands with the police and confront this demon that continues to terrorise communities. Enough is enough,” Hadebe said.
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