A 20-year-old woman from Hammanskraal, Ikageng Kgadile, has survived a harrowing ordeal after allegedly being stabbed multiple times by her boyfriend, Mfana Ngwenya, also known as Lazarus Antonio. The young woman not only endured the physical pain of the assault but was also forced to remain in his presence throughout the night while bleeding heavily from her wounds.
Kgadile, still shaken but grateful to be alive, recounted the events that unfolded in chilling detail. According to her, the incident began when Antonio returned from a night out at a tavern and confessed to killing his former girlfriend.
“I didn’t believe him at first. I told him he was lying,” she recalled. “He then showed me a video on his phone. That’s when I realized he was telling the truth.”
The woman he allegedly murdered was later identified as 20-year-old Kgaogelo Marota. Her lifeless body was discovered with multiple stab wounds outside a tavern in Maubane village, Limpopo, last Thursday.
According to Kgadile, Antonio justified the killing by claiming that Marota had been “annoying him” and had reported him to the police, which led to him being searched while at the tavern. After confessing, he allegedly turned his anger toward Kgadile, threatening to kill her and then end his own life.
“When his attempt to hang me failed, he started stabbing me over and over again,” she said. “I tried to fight back, and eventually he stopped.”
Despite her critical condition, Antonio allegedly forced her to leave his home and took her to another house. There, instead of allowing her to seek medical help, he reportedly compelled her to lie down and sleep while she bled from her wounds.
“I lay there in pain, thinking I was going to die,” Kgadile said softly. “He just kept me there until the next day.”
The following morning, Antonio released her, and she immediately sought help from her family. She was rushed to safety and later received medical attention.
The incident has left Kgadile traumatized. Although Antonio has since been arrested and charged with murder and attempted murder, she admits that fear still lingers.
“I know he’s behind bars, but I am still scared for my life,” she explained.
The case has sparked outrage in Hammanskraal and Limpopo, highlighting the ongoing crisis of gender-based violence in South Africa. Community members have expressed shock at the brutality of the attack and the loss of yet another young woman, Kgaogelo Marota, whose life was cut short.
Authorities have urged women in abusive relationships to seek help early and to make use of available support services. Police have confirmed that investigations are ongoing and that Antonio will remain in custody until his next court appearance.
For Kgadile, survival is only the beginning of her healing journey. She says her wish now is to rebuild her life, heal emotionally, and raise awareness about the dangers of staying silent in abusive relationships.
About the Author
