News

Didi’s family says killer husband intimidated by her success

todaySeptember 20, 2024 628 1

Background
share close

The family of slain scientist, Dorcas ‘Didi’ Lekganyane, says her husband, Cecil Kekana, was intimidated by her success.

Kekana made his third appearance in the Alexandra Magistrate Court today, after previously abandoning his bail application.

Lekganyane had been honoured as a Mail and Guardian 200 Young South African just weeks before Kekana allegedly took her life.

He’s accused of fatally stabbing her multiple times at their marital home in Bramley, Johannesburg.

Kekana, found next to her lifeless body, allegedly tried to commit suicide following the incident and is the only suspect in the case.


The couple’s three-year-old daughter was in the house during the tragedy.


Lekganyane’s uncle, Robert Lekganyane, says the young girl is still battling the traumatic experience of losing her mother at such a critical age.


Didi’s sister, Sara Salwana, believes her sister’s accomplishments intimidated Kekana.


“My sister’s success intimidated him to a point where he wanted to eliminate her. He should have just left her and let her go,” she told YNews.


Lekganyane was in the process of leaving her husband when her tragic murder occurred.

She had previously opened an assault case against her husband two years ago but withdrew it following a family intervention.

Her family and friends describe Kekana’s alleged suicide attempt as a blatant attempt to avoid accountability.


The murder of the bright and talented young woman has highlighted the scourge of intimate partner violence in the country.

Members of the Gender-Based Violence Brigades have condemned the cutting short of Lekganyane’s life, calling on men to stand up against gender-based violence and femicide.

The case has since been postponed to November 29 to allow police to finalise investigations.

Written by: Naomi Kobbie

Rate it

0%