Boyfriend of slain Joburg scientist arrested
Gauteng police have arrested the boyfriend of an environmental scientist who was killed in Bramley in what was believed to be an incident of domestic violence.
The 32-year-old woman, Dorcas "Didi" Lekganyane, was stabbed to death, allegedly by her partner, on Thursday.
Police spokesperson Noxolo Kweza said the suspect is under police guard in hospital.
"I can confirm that police are investigating a murder docket after responding to a domestic violence incident in Bramley on Thursday. She was found dead with multiple stab wounds. Her partner was also found in the house.
"He was taken to a local hospital where he was placed under police guard. He will be charged with murder and will appear in court soon.”
The family described Lekganyane as a beacon of light, a celebrated academic, and an internationally respected scientist.
"Didi was brutally taken from us in an act of senseless violence, a story we have heard too often and that has become too commonplace in our homes and our society," the family said in a statement
"As her loved ones mourn her untimely and unfair death, we recognise that we are not alone in our loss.
"She was a prominent voice in the fields of traditional medicine and environmental science, known for her passion and unwavering commitment to cultural inclusivity and biodiversity preservation both in South Africa and beyond its borders."
Last month, Lekganyane was named one of the Mail & Guardian’s 200 Young South Africans, an annual feature profiling trailblazing youngsters.
"As a family, we invite everyone who knew and loved her to join us in grieving this immense loss and ensuring that her legacy lives on and that justice is served,” the statement continued.
"We also urge anyone experiencing domestic violence to seek help and support. Every death of a woman in South Africa at the hands of an intimate partner is one death too many.”
ALSO READ:
