Jealousy and violence: The alarming rise of filicide in South Africa

On the 20th anniversary of the murder of 6-month-old baby Jordan-Leigh Norton, who would have been a university student had her young life not been snuffed out by revenge filicide, a crime expert says the deliberate killing of children is becoming more common in South Africa.

Dina Rodrigues was the mastermind behind the June 15, 2005, murder of her then-boyfriend Neil Wilson’s daughter, Jordan-Leigh, and it was one of the first documented contract killings of an infant in South Africa.

Rodrigues is set for her parole hearing in just six years.

The case chillingly has similar hallmarks of former pre-school teacher, Amber Lee Hughes, who last week admitted to killing her lover’s 4-year-old daughter, Nada-Jane Challita.

Hughes started making headlines in January 2023, following her arrest for the murder of Nada-Jane, whose body was found floating in a tub of water in her Glenvista home in Johannesburg.

Hughes began her relationship with Nada-Jane's father in 2021 and moved into his home, with the  couple allegedly often having arguments.

The National Prosecuting Authority said during one incident, Hughes allegedly raped the child by inserting a sharp object into her private parts while she was in her care.

Hughes has denied raping the child. 

It was further revealed that Hughes allegedly drowned the child in a bathtub and cut both of her wrists.

Hughes had previously pleaded not guilty to the murder, but last week she confessed.

On Sunday, the Cape Argus contacted Jordan-Leigh’s grandfather, Vernon Norton, who said they were not in a position to comment on the anniversary or the Hughes case, while queries to her mother, Natasha Norton, went unanswered via her social media.

Earlier, spokesperson for the Department of Correctional Services, Singabakho Nxumalo, confirmed Rodrigues was eligible for a parole hearing in December 2031.

Celeste Louw, general manager of operations at the TEARS Foundation, said filicide was becoming more common in South Africa.

Filicide is defined as the deliberate killing of one or more children by a parent, step-parent, or other parental figure.

A particularly rare and poorly understood subtype is revenge filicide, where a parent murders their child to inflict emotional distress upon the child's other parent.

Louw told the Cape Argus the crime was a form of power over their partner after feeling rejected.

“Revenge filicide is not as uncommon as many believe. In situations where a partner feels rejected, humiliated, or out of control, especially during separation or conflict," she said.

“They may use the ultimate act of violence, the killing of the child, as a way to punish the other parent. 

“It's a deeply disturbing expression of rage and a need to inflict maximum pain, often linked to a sense of ownership and control. While unthinkable to most, it reflects how emotional distress, entitlement, and a desire for retaliation can collide with devastating consequences. 

Louw shared the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) definition of the crime in which the HSRC’s Dr Gadija Khan said filicide occurred across various cultures, geographic locations, and socio-economic conditions. 

Khan highlighted the motives behind filicide, often involving complex psychological influences such as stress or depression.

Meanwhile, Rodrigues, who is imprisoned at Pollsmoor Prison, earned an Education degree and has taught at Worcester Female Prison while she was an inmate there.

In June 2021, Zanethemba Gwada and Bonginkosi Sigenu, who were convicted of Jordan-Leigh's murder, were paroled in 2017 and 2018 respectively, serving 13-14 years.

Gwada, Sigenu, Rodrigues, Sipho Mfazwe, and Mongezi Bobotyane were all convicted of the 2005 murder. 

Rodrigues hired the men, who posed as couriers, offering R10 000 for the infant's murder by stabbing her in the neck.

Rodrigues, who was dating Jordan-Leigh's father, Wilson, stated she couldn't accept his illegitimate child's existence and confessed to hiring someone to kill the baby. 

She told Wilson she paid R10 000 to "make the problem go away," later realising her evil.

Rodrigues, Mfazwe, and Bobotyane received life sentences.

Sigenu, 16 at the time, pleaded guilty at 18, detailing how he was asked to strangle the baby. He recalled Jordan-Leigh crying, reminding him of his brother Bobotyane, and then cutting the baby's throat.

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