By Everson Luhanga
Cecil Kekana, accused of murdering his wife Dorcas “Didi” Lekganyane, made a brief appearance in the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
Kekana, who has a history of committing acts of domestic violence, was discharged from hospital on Tuesday morning before being taken to court to face murder charges.
He had taken pills in an apparent suicide attempt after slitting Didi’s throat and stabbing her multiple times while their three-year-old daughter was downstairs with their nanny.
Didi opened a criminal case of assault against Kekana in 2022 at Edenvale police station, but the matter was later withdrawn after the family intervened.
Kekana, who works for the City of Johannesburg, was arrested on Thursday by police in Bramley, Johannesburg, after Didi was found murdered in the bedroom of their double-storey apartment.
Family members who spoke to Scrolla.Africa said there had been cases of Kekana assaulting Didi before she was murdered, some of which were not reported to the authorities.
Sources said the motive behind the killing was Kekana’s suspicion that Didi was cheating.
In a statement, Didi’s family asked anyone experiencing domestic violence to seek help.
“Every death of a woman in South Africa at the hands of an intimate partner is one death too many,” they said.
Didi’s family said she touched many lives.
“Beyond her academic and professional achievements, Didi was involved in various community initiatives, including working with a group of rural women on a seed bank project to protect biodiversity.”
They said she actively used media platforms to educate the public about traditional medicine and its scientific backing.
“She touched countless lives through her work and tireless efforts to bridge the gap between traditional practices and modern science. The world is a poorer place today without her.”
Kekana will appear in court again on 23 July for a formal bail application.
Pictured above: The couple in happier times.
Source: X
