A 24-year-old man from the Northern Cape has been imprisoned for a decade after assaulting his partner's mother and setting her home ablaze. The incident unfolded in March when tensions escalated during a visit. The Hopetown Regional Court delivered the sentence following details of the violent attack.
In a case that highlights domestic violence in rural South Africa, Lukas Klein, aged 24, appeared before the Hopetown Regional Court for crimes committed in March 2025. Klein assaulted 47-year-old Lena Louw, the mother of his partner, after she intervened to protect her daughter from his aggression.
Provincial police spokesperson Thabo Litabe provided a detailed account of the events. Louw heard her daughter screaming and was warned to lock the door as Klein approached aggressively. When Klein forced entry, Louw defended herself by throwing boiling water at him. Undeterred, Klein struck her with a pickaxe, leaving her unconscious.
Louw regained consciousness in the hospital, where she discovered that Klein had set her house on fire, destroying all her possessions. The court sentenced Klein to 10 years in prison, reflecting the severity of the assault and arson.
This incident underscores ongoing challenges with gender-based violence in the Northern Cape, where interventions by family members can lead to escalated dangers. Police emphasize the importance of reporting such threats promptly to prevent further harm.