The Weekend of the 30th of August marked the end of Woman’s month, and with it came another femicide to add to South Africa’s pile of missing people dockets, rape cases and pending murder investigations. The victim in this case – Leighandre “Baby Lee” Jegels – was allegedly shot and killed by her boyfriend on Friday. This occurred shortly before her planned comeback to the boxing ring, ending her short-lived successful career.
Baby Lee’s boxing career started in June 2014, and prior to that she obtained a black belt in karate. Early in her career she became South Africa’s junior champion in the bantamweight class. She later became the World Boxing Association Pan African junior bantamweight class, as well as the World Boxing Association Pan African Junior bantamweight champion. Baby Lee was unbeaten in all 9 her fights, of which 7 was won through knockout punches, until her break from boxing in 2017. The 25 year old talent had plans to make her comeback this year. Prior to her death she was training for a non-title junior bantamweight clash against Siphosethu Nxazonke which was supposed to take place on the 2nd of October. She is survived by her mother, who was also shot and injured during the same incident and is currently receiving medical treatment.
The accused – Seargant Bulelani Manyakama – was in a severe car accident only minutes after the murder of boxing and karate champion Leighandre ‘Baby Lee’ Jegels. Manyakama obtained critical head injuries after he collided with another vehicle in Peddie on Voortrekker Road in East London. It has been confirmed that he too passed away a few days after the ordeal took place.
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