POLOKWANE – Ntiyiso Xilumane (26) has been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Limpopo High Court for the murder of Shongile Nkwashu.
During proceedings, the court heard that Nkwashu was no longer Xilumane’s girlfriend, having ended the relationship on 15 January 2020 via text message. This was part of the state’s evidence. Agitated by the text message, Xilumane travelled from Giyani to Nkwashu’s workplace, Mankweng Hospital, where he throttled her to death and locked her door room before leaving the scene.
Nkhwashu’s body was found on the evening of January 19, 2020.
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The Regional Spokesperson of the NPA in Limpopo, Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi said the State, led by Advocate Eric Mabapa rejected a plea and proved that the accused had pre-planned the murder and called the father of the deceased, Mawewe Kenneth Nkwashu to testify about the text messages of threats, nude pictures of her daughter and vulgar words sent to him by the accused in November to December 2019.
“In aggravation of sentence, Advocate Eric Mabapa said that the conduct of Xilumane was unbecoming he threatened the father of the deceased by sending him text messages; he even said that “if I can’t have Xongile no one will have her.” Adv. Mabapa further argued that Xilumane was not remorseful, the accused was regrettable because he realised that his road comes to an end,” Malabi-Dzhangi said.
The Judge President Makgoba remarked that men turned themselves into animals and that the community is sick and tired of violence. “The court will look into the interest of the society. Our country is suffering from murderers, rapists and robberers. In this matter youthfulness should not be regarded as a mitigating factor,”Makgoba said.
The NPA has welcomed the sentence and the Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Ivy Thenga commended the good work of the state advocate, the investigations team and the Limpopo Department of Health. She further urged the community to report domestic violence to the police and also make protection order where it is applicable.
