By REGINALD KANYANE
24 July 2025- A patient, who was allegedly discharged from Kimberley Mental Hospital in Kimberley without her mother’s knowledge and gone, missing since June 2025, refuted these allegations. In a statement posted on a Facebook account of Mnathisi Makoba, depicting Karabo Vilakazi’s picture, said she wanted to speak out because her name, her face and her story, has been misrepresented in the media.
Vilakazi further said the truth needs to be heard.
“My name is Mnathisi Karabo Lungile Vilakazi (previously known as Makhoba) and I am not missing. I was safely discharged from the hospital after medical professionals found no truth in the false claims made by my mother, Gufu Makhoba, who knowingly hid her face on television, while exposing mine.
“This is not the case of a “missing daughter”, but the story of a mother using the media to manipulate the narrative, weaponizing my mental health struggles and trying to maintain control over me,” she added.
Vilakazi said she lives with depression and anxiety and never denied it. However, she alleges that, instead of receiving compassion, her mental health has been used against her by the very same person who should have protected her.
“My mother has illegally kept all my personal documents such as my ID, learner’s license, school books, stationary and clothes. I’m currently going through legal processes to retrieve what’s rightfully mine.
“I have opened a case of domestic violence on 31 May 2025, against her. One of my closest friends also filed a protection order due to her behaviour. She has a history of physical, verbal and emotional abuse and not just towards me, but to my older sister, who has cut off contact with our mother years ago for the sake of her own mental health,” said Vilakazi.
She said she is now being supported by her father, sister, friends and therapist. Vilakazi said these are people who have experienced her controlling and abusive patterns first hand.
“I am safe and far away from the constant fear and manipulation I grew up under. So, many people think abuse only comes from fathers or strangers, but sometimes it’s your own mother who will abuse you and no one wants to believe you.
“I’m not the first nor last who experienced abuse from my own mother, but it is not talked about. SABC, I respectfully ask that you reach out to me directly because my voice matters and the truth shall prevail,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Northern Cape Department of Health spokesperson, Lebogang Majaha said: “We hereby confirm that Karabo Vilakazi was indeed admitted at the Northern Cape Mental Health Hospital on 3 June 2025. It is worth mentioning that the clinical interventions were successful until she was discharged on 23 June 2025.
“Notwithstanding the fact that she is an adult mental health care user, based on her clinical condition at discharge classified as a Voluntary User. She had good insight and judgment and did not pose a danger to herself and others, and was able to make autonomous decisions.”
Majaha said, however, her treating doctor at the hospital prior to discharge on her guidance, contacted and discussed her discharge with her next-of-kin. He said it is worth mentioning that in terms of the Mental Health Care Act 17 of 2002, Voluntary Mental Health Care Users can give consent for admission and be discharged independently.
“Furthermore, the department notes the statement issued by SAPS on the alleged case and confirmation that Karabo Vilakazi was found safe at a friend’s house in Greenpoint in Kimberley.
“The department has the best interest of all users/patients at heart and highly appreciates that Vilakazi is safe,” said Majaha.
The Guardian 