The mother of the deceased three-month-old baby girl, Patience Tshuma, who was killed with a hammer a year ago in Diepsloot, expressed relief and sang the praises of investigating officer, Sergeant Mashilo Magoro.
The child’s killer, Xolani Ndlovu (26) was sentenced to life imprisonment in the Palm Ridge High Court and his co-accused, Oscar Sibanda (22), to 18 years for his role in the same murder. Both accused were each sentenced to an additional 11 years for burglary, attempted murder and assault.
According to the baby’s mother Duduzile Moyo, Ndlovu, who is her former lover, arrived at her residence in July last year and accused her of having been unfaithful. Sibande stood at the door guarding while Ndlovu assaulted both the mother and daughter with a hammer.
The mother was treated and later released from a local hospital. Little Patience, however, suffered fatal head injuries, including a cracked skull.
Ndlovu also went ahead to assault Moyo’s two other children, aged five and seven, with his hands, as he said he could not stand the noise of the children crying in distress. He fled Diepsloot after the senseless attack, and was arrested in Braamfischerville on the West Rand about three weeks later.
Moyo said she was finally at peace as the two accused were now under lock and key.
