'THE KIDS MUST BE WITH THEIR MOTHER'

In an exclusive interview with the Daily Voice's sister newspaper, the Weekend Argus, the husband of murdered mother Zainab Jacobs has spoken out for the first time since her death.

Ganief Jacobs is pleading for the public to stop spreading rumours and to respect the privacy of the traumatised children left behind.

Zainab and her sister, Gouwah Smith-Newman, were shot and killed in Mitchells Plain last week, allegedly by their brother, Ederees Smith after a domestic dispute allegedly over his kids.

The incident sent shockwaves through the community and has drawn national attention to the ongoing issue of gender-based violence. Smith was later arrested and remains in custody.

Jacobs said the past week has been unbearable.

"Their lives changed drastically over the past week. The older one understands, and with people talking, it also takes a toll on him. I am going through the most too," he said.

"All I want to do is protect their well-being and get them back into society again, allow them to adapt, give them the space. I don’t want to fight. It’s important to know that we are trying to meet each other halfway, but right now there is the law, and the law also has a say."

Ganief said the community needed to understand that there are legal and religious processes to be respected.

He explained: "The people have done enough damage. Now the judges, lawyers and social workers must have the final say.

"If they decide the boys have to go back, then I will not fight, as much as it will hurt me, because I formed a bond, especially with the younger one who lived with us for three years.

"In fact, we had a meeting in the week to speak about returning the kids, but by law I am not allowed to. By Islamic beliefs the children should be with their mother, and I respect that. But there is an ongoing court case, and I also have to respect that."

The Weekend Argus learnt that both Ganief, along with the boys mother, their grandfather, social workers, psychologists community workers, religious leaders and elders in the family met earlier in the week at  a safe, neutral venue in Schaapkraal to hand over the children but during the meeting, it was explained by law that it would need to go through the court.

Ganief also addressed the rumours circulating on social media about him allegedly paying lawyers and social workers R100 000 to remove the children from their parents.

"Everyone has their different stories, and I am not happy with the way they are painting me," he said.

"I have no hate towards Wadee-ah. She is the mother of the children. But there is a reason why this is happening. Yesterday (Wednesday) was the youngest’s birthday. 

"My father-in-law asked to speak to him, they spoke, and later they visited the kids. I apologised to my father-in-law because I don’t want bad blood."

Zainab’s father, Mogamat Nadeem Smith, said he shared those sentiments and harboured no resentment towards Ganief.

Smith said: "We spoke on Wednesday, on the youngest’s birthday, and he apologised. I cannot turn him down because, like we all agreed, it’s about the kids now. I also know it must have taken a lot for him to say sorry, So we leave it in Allah's hands, it's His plans now.

"We are where we are, and we will never be able to get them back. Right now it’s not about myself, or the parents, or the grandparents, but about the kids. It’s also not about trying to figure out what’s happening or what happened.

“People should start asking the right questions. Why be worried about the details? Worry about the kids."

Through all the pain, Ganief said one thing remains clear his wife’s love for the children.

"Everything me and Zainab did was try and help. The kids came to us for help. Look where it got us, to a murder case. It shows what we fought for. My wife and I loved those kids, with all of us."

The family was expected to appear in the Mitchells Plain Magistrate’s Children’s Court on Thursday, but the matter was postponed until a later date. The court had previously ordered that the children remain in Zainab’s custody until January 2026.

Outside the court, the children’s mother Wadee-ah told the Weekend Argus that she was there to fight for her children.

"I am not worried about whatever now. I just want my children back, I am hurt about my sisters-in-law and yes, my husband is in jail and he is gonna serve his time. God already put out everything, but now my main focus is to get my children back," she said.