The woman, who was charged with the murder of the daughter of former Americans gang boss, Kaldimola ‘Dimes’ Madatt, told police she acted in self-defence.
Charges against the 44-year-old woman have been withdrawn before she could appear in the Mitchells Plain Magistrates’ Court.
On Wednesday, the woman’s attorney, Labiek Samuels, confirmed his client was free after the matter was withdrawn.
However, the charge of murder may be reinstated if evidence is found following further investigation.
Samuels says he advised his client not to speak to the media.
The woman had handed herself over to cops after she allegedly stabbed Lameez Madatt-Gertse, 29, at a residence in Rocklands on Saturday just after 10.30pm during a fight.
Dimes confirmed that Lameez had been stabbed during an argument, but denied knowing the woman, or why the altercation happened.
Dimes also told the Daily Voice that Lameez had been stabbed in the chest and rushed to hospital where she died.
BEREAVED: Lameez’s dad Kaldimola ‘Dimes’ Madatt, former gang leader
A representative of the suspect, who asked not to be identified, says they want to clear the woman’s name as she had acted in self-defence.
She also claims Lameez did not die of the stab wound, but rather from an asthma attack.
It is alleged Lameez and another female had gone to the woman’s house to attack her.
The representative says the woman was not a violent person who fought with people.
“She is not that type of person. She looks after her elderly father and children and is a single mom who is estranged from her husband.
“This Lameez had an affair with her husband for the past two years and there have been many confrontations during which Lameez would threaten her.
“She was scared something would happen to her 12-year-old daughter who was with her in the house on Saturday.
“The daughter tried to get the two women off from her mother.
“That was when the suspect acted in self-defence and grabbed something (the knife).
“(After the stabbing) the woman was in a state of shock and called an emergency number and told them what happened.
“She went to the police station to report what happened and was also going to open a case of assault against the deceased.”
The representative says while at the cop shop, the woman heard that Lameez had died.
“She told the police and she was placed into custody.”
VICTIM: Lameez Madatt-Gertse
The representative says they believe it was an asthma attack, and not the stab wound, that killed Lameez.
She says the family was threatened after the incident, and they wanted to set the record straight and clear the woman’s name.
“She was acting in self-defence. Then she heard that the deceased had an asthma attack after the incident (and we believe she died of that).”
genevieve.serra@inl.co.za