A family feud between a mother and daughter which is playing out in court has deepened with them obtaining restraining orders against each other.
The mother and her two siblings in their late 20s and early 30s have seemingly been estranged for more than a decade since the death of the sisters’ father.
The case which was reported in Alex News’ Burns’ mother fails to pitch [Week ending 1 November] involves daughter Sibongile Hendricks who hauled the mother to court for alleged assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. This after the accused Mavis Mlalandle, who is denying the charge, allegedly burnt Sibongile’s legs with hot water at their 7th Avenue home in September. She is recuperating at a boyfriend’s home, on the same street.
The arrest of the mother was dramatic when she fainted at the Alexandra Police Station and was granted bail on medical grounds with a warning to appear in court. She skipped a hearing and luckily avoided the bail being revoked when she claimed to have gone to a wrong court. This prompted the case to be provisionally withdrawn after the case docket went missing and according to Hendricks, her statement has been recreated.
Mlalandle was first to take a restraining order against the daughter for alleged abuse and beating. “There is no evidence of such and I was amazed to be served with the order which basically restrains me from accessing the home,” Hendricks responded.
“It has all but destroyed any chance of us seeking mediation. A real mother can’t burn their own child.”
Mlalandle denies the charge claiming that she was at the home’s gate when Hendricks seemingly burnt herself.
The daughter retaliated with her own restraining order against the mother she accused of threatening her life. “I can’t trust her, she has no good intentions for us,” said Hendricks,who is a traditional healer, adding that her mother wants her out of the house because she dislikes her practice.
She is supported in the hearings by other traditional healers and with her sibling, intend taking DNA tests to ascertain their biological relationship with Mlalandle. Also, the missing docket has made her contemplate asking for neutral investigation on the case she believes should be reclassified as attempted murder.
Confirming the case, Alex Police Station Commander Brigadier Lindiwe Magudulela urged the complainant to leave the case in the hands of the investigators and the justice system. “It may be going slow but will eventually be concluded.”
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