On the day marking the end of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, a three-year-old girl narrowly escaped with her life after her uncle (35) attempted to slit her throat with an Okapi knife.

This horrific incident, which took place in Mganwini outside Hluhluwe on Wednesday, was relayed to the ZO by a close family member, who said they suspect the culprit is mentally unwell.

She said the child’s mother was inside with her sister at the time.

“While they were in the house, they spotted their brother passing by the window. He was talking to himself, which they thought was strange,” she said, adding that after a while, they went to investigate.

“They saw their brother holding the child between his thighs. He had a knife in his hand and was trying to cut the child’s throat. When he realised that his sisters were approaching, he let the child fall on the ground, bleeding,” she said.

The man then attempted to chase the women away, threatening them with the knife.

“They managed to get the child away and rushed her to Macabuzela Clinic for medical attention. II think there’s something wrong with him, or he is losing his mind,” she said.
uMkhanyakude Cluster police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Sibusiso Mkhize, said a case of attempted murder was registered at Hluhluwe SAPS for further investigation.

“Shortly after the incident, police went out to look for a suspect,” said Mkhize. “He was found bleeding as he had tried to commit suicide by stabbing himself in the neck and stomach.”

Mkhize says Hluhluwe SAPS rushed him to the clinic for medical assistance.

“The knife he allegedly used was not found – it’s believed that he threw it away. We suspect he is not mentally stable, but that would have to be confirmed by medical doctors. As soon as he gets discharged, he will be formally charged for attempted murder,” he said.

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