A mother from the region of Khayelitsha in South Africa says she was forced to stab her 19-year-old son in self-defense.
The stabbing, according to the woman, came after he allegedly attacked her and her younger children in a violent outburst fueled by crystal meth.
The woman, whose name has not been disclosed to protect the identities of the children, said the incident occurred after she returned home from a night shift to find her son acting erratically and aggressively.
Despite calling the police, she claims she waited more than 12 hours for help — but none arrived.
“It was either him or me,” she said, describing the fear and desperation she felt during the ordeal.
The teenager, who reportedly began using crystal meth last year, allegedly became violent and threatened the family. The confrontation escalated to the point where the mother used a knife to defend herself and her children.
Local police have since opened a preliminary case docket against the mother for assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm (GBH). The investigation is ongoing.
The case has drawn widespread public attention, with many community members and social media users voicing support for the mother. Critics have also slammed the apparent lack of urgency from law enforcement in responding to the family’s call for help.
“This isn’t just a crime story — it’s a failure of the system to protect vulnerable people,” one Khayelitsha resident said.
