A KwaZulu-Natal man has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his girlfriend on the province’s south coast, leaving their child without both parents.
The killing occurred in Hibberdene in July 2024 after the 30-year-old accused allegedly confronted his partner over suspicions that she was having an affair. The couple shared a child and were in a domestic relationship at the time.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in KwaZulu-Natal, the man reportedly saw the woman with another man at a beach earlier that day.
Later that evening, the couple encountered each other at a tavern in Mthwalume, where the confrontation escalated into a violent assault.
NPA spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara said the victim left the establishment, but the accused followed her.
“When he caught up with her, he began assaulting her. Later that evening, a neighbour heard the deceased crying from the room she shared with the accused,” Ramkisson-Kara said.
She added that the accused was later seen leaving the room and walking toward a nearby shop.
The following morning, the neighbour went to check on the woman and found her lying on the bed with multiple injuries. A pool of blood was discovered in the room and police were immediately contacted.
The accused handed himself over to authorities four days later.
During sentencing proceedings, the victim’s father testified in aggravation, telling the court that his daughter’s death had caused deep trauma for the family.
The court sentenced the man to life imprisonment and declared him unfit to possess a firearm.
“The National Prosecuting Authority welcomes the successful finalisation of this matter and remains committed to the fight against the scourge of gender-based violence and femicide,” Ramkisson-Kara said.
Meanwhile, child welfare experts say children who lose a parent to gender-based violence require urgent emotional and psychological support.
Childline South Africa KwaZulu-Natal representative Adeshni Naicker said children affected by such tragedies often experience deep emotional trauma.
She noted that warning signs may include mood swings, aggression, nightmares, changes in sleeping patterns and declining academic performance.
Naicker added that some children may become unusually quiet or overly compliant, which can also signal emotional distress following traumatic events.