Filicide is when a child is murdered by his or her parent/parents. This is not a new phenomenon. Daisy de Melker murdered her son in 1932. She was the second women in South Africa to be hanged.
Why do these women do the unthinkable? It appears that, for Daisy, it was all about the money.
There seem to be different reasons why mothers kill their young. Let’s explore.
Being a mother myself, this one hits home. Yes, my kids do drive me crazy most days, but taking their lives has never crossed my mind.
The case of the South African mother and doctor Lauren Dickason, who killed all three of her daughters only weeks after moving to New Zealand, is only one example of this.
Every time I read about a case like this one I am deeply affected. Is it just me or is this happening more often?
I recently read an article about a mother setting her home on fire with her baby inside.
I try to imagine what can drive a person to do something so drastic.
Isn’t a mother supposed to nurture their young and protect them from harm.
I feel that we, as mothers, took an oath to serve and protect.
But why are these women killing their babies? What drives them to make these deadly decisions?
Looking at the case of Dickason, depression is blamed for the murder of these children, even though Lauren was found guilty of murder.
Depression is a silent killer and not only the depressed are in danger, but so are their loved ones.
I find it difficult to comprehend that she had no other choice, no one to turn to, but I have been lucky to escape the claws of depression.
I am not a medical professional and I cannot begin to image what must have been going on inside Laurens mind.
Another horrific case that appeared in the media recently, was that of Bongeka Buso, this mother murdered her three daughters and then committed suicide.
Police believed she did this due to poverty. How incredibly sad that any person feels that this is the only way out.
My heart goes out to all the mom’s out there, I know it is tough, I know it is lonely, but please, if you feel that things are just a bit much today, please reach out, tell your neighbor, your friend, someone. It is OK not to be OK.
About the author: Monique Botha is a divorced mother of two and has been living on the South Coast for five years. She completed her higher certificate in criminal justice and is in her final year of completing her bachelor’s degree in criminology. She believes in lifelong learning and is proof that one is never too old to make your dreams a reality.
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