She's become a monster. I've done everything. I've been to the police, the courts, the drug lords. I just can't any more. I'm scared I'm going to be the next Ellen Pakkies," the mother said, referring to a mother in Lavender Hill who was driven to kill her son Albie three years ago because of his drug addiction.
The mother had spent thousands of rands, sometimes borrowed after begging from friends, on lawyers and repeatedly bailing her daughter out of police custody. She had to give up her car as she could no longer afford it.
The mother said her daughter, who was living with an aunt, had been an obedient, well-mannered child. She had lived with her grandmother in Elsies River and had fallen pregnant when she was 15, but returned to school after giving birth as she wanted to become a lawyer.
After she matriculated, though, her behaviour became erratic.
"My ex-husband said she was on drugs. I couldn't believe it. Not my child."
Her daughter continuously denied she was on tik, but her life spiralled out of control.
About two years ago, around the time she was locked up in Pollsmoor Prison for a week, she was pushed out of a moving car when a man tried to sexually assault her. In October two years ago another man tried to rape her and when she fought him, he shot her.
"The bullet went through one leg into the other. I lodged a complaint with police, but she then withdrew it," her mother said.
A while after the shooting, a friend stabbed her in the leg.
