Many victims of femicide obtained protection orders before their murder, say experts

Ikageng Kgadile, who was allegedly wounded by her boyfriend who went on a stabbing frenzy, killed his ex-girlfriend and then confessed on a video post on social media, fears for her life should he be granted bail.

Lazarus Antonio, 26, is accused of killing his ex-girlfriend Kgaugelo Marota, 20, by stabbing her multiple times outside a tavern in Maubane village on August 21.

Kgadile told TimesLIVE Premium Marota had a protection order and she has no faith that if she gets one it would protect her from harm. 

“It failed Kgaugelo. What about me? A protection order is just a piece of paper he can violate and come for me, they don't give you police protection. I wouldn't like him to get bail because I won't feel free and safe.”

The video clip, which has been widely shared, shows him expressing remorse several times. He admits to Marote's stabbing but says it was not premeditated. He said he had tried several times to repair their relationship after she had “made him love her”. He said he regretted he could not undo his actions.

According to the Tears Foundation's Celeste Louw, for survivors of intimate partner violence, leaving is often seen as the moment of liberation, yet research reveals a darker truth: separation, or even securing a protection order, is when danger is at its highest. 

“Nearly half of intimate partner homicides occur after a victim tries to leave. The act of reclaiming freedom can trigger an abuser’s rage, jealousy and desperate attempts to reassert control,” Louw said.

Antonio appeared in the Themba magistrate's court last week charged with the murder of Marota and Kgadile's attempted murder. His case has been postponed to September 5 for confirmation of his nationality and a possible bail application. 

Marota's father Thabiso Seema said he would take the law into his own hands if the man is released on bail.

The family said Marota had a protection order against Antonio.

Louw said the warning signs are known: escalating threats, stalking, breaches of protection orders, access to weapons, threats of murder or suicide, previous violence, extreme jealousy and substance abuse. 

These red flags must be taken seriously and recognising them early and responding swiftly can save lives.

“Abuse is about power and separation shatters that dynamic. Many abusers view it as betrayal and respond with violence, sometimes to punish, sometimes to maintain control. Cultural norms that condone male dominance and stigmatise women who leave only intensify the danger.”

Louw said protection orders are vital but too often fail in practice. 

“Survivors themselves must police violations, repeatedly reporting breaches despite delayed or inconsistent police responses. Many hesitate, out of fear, empathy or distrust of authorities. Meanwhile, abusers exploit technology to stalk and harass from afar. Without stronger enforcement, immediate responses and harsher penalties, protection orders remain fragile shields. It is one of the few crimes where the victim is expected to enforce the law themselves.”

She added that true safety requires more than escape as survivors need secure housing, counselling, legal aid, financial support, healthcare, childcare and strong community networks. 

“Survival is only the first step; empowerment is what allows women to rebuild. Femicide is preventable. That requires early intervention, firearm restrictions, tougher enforcement of protection orders, behaviour change programmes for perpetrators, better training for responders and the use of technology such as GPS monitoring and emergency alerts. It also means shifting the cultural norms that excuse violence and strengthening economic opportunities so survivors are not forced back into dependency,” she said.

Christi Kruger, acting director at the Centre for Sexualities, Aids and Gender at the University of Pretoria, said the risks after leaving a relationship, concerning violence, will often depend on what the relationship looked like before the person left. 

Violent behaviour often tends not to stop abruptly. 

“Therefore, a person who experienced abuse, and specifically physical abuse, may be at a higher risk. South Africa has an exceptionally high rate of femicide; therefore, any violence or threat of violence should be seen as a risk and taken seriously,” she said.

Any prior violent behaviour or even the threat of violence should be taken seriously and could be indicative of a heightened risk.

According to Kruger, research shows women who were threatened with femicide, strangled, severely beaten or stalked are more likely to be killed by their former partner. 

Access to a firearm or other weapon should also be seen as an increased risk. Substance or alcohol abuse could also be a warning sign as it lowers inhibitions.

Kruger agrees with Louw that abusive relationships often centre on control and power.

If a woman (or any other person) feels the need to obtain a protection order this in itself should be taken seriously. A protection order does not guarantee safety and one cannot be 100% certain that the person against whom the protection order is granted will respect the parameters of the order

—  Christi Kruger, acting director at the Centre for Sexualities, Aids and Gender at the University of Pretoria

“When a victim or survivor leaves the relationship the abuser may feel they are losing the power and control they have and find it intolerable. This could lead to escalation. People, and in particular men, who abuse their partner are often not able to regulate their emotions well and are thus unable to handle the loss of the relationship. Anger and jealousy could also play a role. Some men may reason that they would rather kill their partner than see them with a new partner. Every situation is unique and one cannot assume all escalations will be because of the same reasons.”

According to Kruger, a significant number of women who are victims of femicide obtained protection orders before their murder. 

“If a woman (or any other person) feels the need to obtain a protection order this in itself should be taken seriously. A protection order does not guarantee safety and one cannot be 100% certain that the person against whom the protection order is granted will respect the parameters of the order. Moreover, the protection of the order is limited to the scope of the order. Therefore, it is possible for an abuser to circumvent the protection order on a technical basis. A protection order is also not a permanent solution and will not address the underlying issues a woman may face.”

Kruger said the enforcement of a protection order ought to go hand-in-hand with other forms of psychosocial support. 

“This could include assisting women to create a safety plan, offering temporary or permanent housing away from the immediate vicinity of the abuser and offering counselling. Overall, I think the ways in which toxic forms of masculinity thrive in South Africa should be addressed to combat gender-based violence (GBV).”

She added South Africa needs to address GBV more seriously by ensuring enough resources are made available to implement prevention programmes, ensure gender-sensitive policing and enable more progressive legislation with regard to GBV and femicide.

Louw said leaving an abuser should mean safety and freedom, not a death sentence. 

To make that a reality, “We must strengthen protections, support survivors and dismantle the power imbalances that fuel violence.”