Spurned lover gets ‘life’ for murder
The woman was bludgeoned to death in a vacant field
Phindile Misi Thwala paid with her life for ending a romantic relationship… Horrifyingly, she was bludgeoned to death by a former lover in a vacant field in Nkomakazini, Loskop.
However, justice was served last week when the Madadeni Regional Court sentenced Thokoza Maxwell Ndlovu (38) to life imprisonment for the murder that occurred in October 2021.
According to National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, the couple was in an intimate relationship and Ndlovu had paid ‘lobola’ (the practice of paying a bride price).
“They lived together and Thwala suffered physical and financial abuse from him. To this end, she applied for a protection order and verbally told Ndlovu that she was ending their relationship. He refused to accept this and continued to harass her,” said Ramkisson-Kara.
After escaping from her boyfriend’s possessive clutches, Thwala began a relationship with someone else, whom she was living with. On the night of the murder, Thwala’s boyfriend was working nightshift when Ndlovu charged into the house and forcibly took Thwala with him.
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“He took her into a field, where he killed her using an unknown blunt object. Thwala suffered head injuries, and had bruises on her thighs and knees, indicating that she was dragged on the ground before being killed. After killing her, Ndlovu phoned her family and told them about her death. He also phoned her boyfriend and told him that he would kill him too,” explained Ramkisson-Kara.
10 days later, acting on a tip-off, police found Ndlovu hiding at his partner’s house. A firearm and ammunition were turned up in a search.
He was subsequently arrested and charged.
“In court, regional court prosecutor Eddie Mbewu led the testimonies of Thwala’s family members. Since they were traumatised by the incident and found it difficult to face Ndlovu in an open court, the state enlisted the assistance of an intermediary who helped by explaining the court process and keeping them calm. Thwala’s sister said that their family loved and trusted Ndlovu, as he cared for Thwala’s four children like his own. Ndlovu was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder, eight years for unlawful possession of a firearm and three years for the unlawful possession of ammunition. He will effectively serve a term of life imprisonment,” Ramkisson-Kara commented.
She added that the NPA welcomes the successful finalisation of this matter.
“Curbing the scourge of gender-based violence and femicide remains a priority of the organisation. We commend the work done by the prosecution and SAPS,” concluded Ramkisson-Kara.
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