LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR FEMICIDE 

15 DECEMBER 2025 

LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR FEMICIDE 

The Estcourt Regional Court sentenced a 36-year-old man to life imprisonment after he pleaded guilty (Section 112(2)) to the murder of his ex-partner in May 2025 at the Estcourt taxi rank. The accused and the 33-year-old deceased were in a domestic relationship, and they shared three minor children together. However, the deceased left the accused due to abuse in their relationship. 

On the day of the incident, the deceased had gone to Pietermaritzburg. During this time, the accused was unable to contact her on her cellphone. Upon her return to Estcourt, the deceased phoned the accused, and he told her to wait for him at the Estcourt taxi rank, which she did. 

When the accused reached the taxi rank, an argument ensued between him and the deceased about where she had gone. The accused was armed with his licensed firearm which he used to shoot the deceased all over her body. He emptied the entire magazine on her, killing her on the scene. 

Thereafter, he ran to the police station, which was close by, and surrendered himself to the police as the members of the community were chasing him. 

In aggravation of the sentence, Prosecutor Abednego Mbewu led the evidence of the deceased’s sister, who testified that the incident had traumatised her entire family. She said that images from the scene were circulated on social media, causing them further distress. The deceased’s uncle also testified that their family was devastated by the incident and must now share the responsibility of caring for the minor children. In addition to the life sentence, the accused was deemed unfit to possess a firearm. 

The National Prosecuting Authority welcomes the successful finalisation of this matter as curbing the scourge of gender-based violence and femicide remains an organisational priority. 

Issued by: 

Natasha Ramkisson-Kara 

NPA Regional Spokesperson 

KZN Division

071 6700 229