DOUBLE LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR KILLING SCHOOLGIRLS

24 JULY 2025

DOUBLE LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR KILLING SCHOOLGIRLS

The Ixopo Regional Court has sentenced Baphumelele Zulu (24) to two terms of life imprisonment for the murder of two schoolgirls in July 2022 in the Ngwagwane area near Creighton. Zulu was sentenced to a further eight years' imprisonment for escaping from lawful custody.

The deceased, Amanda Zulu and Minenhle Buthelezi, were Grade 12 schoolgirls who were renting a house within a homestead in the Ngwagwane area. They were renting there so that they could be closer to their school.

On the evening of 30 July 2022, both complainants were attacked at the house. Following the incident, Amanda Zulu was found bleeding outside the house, and since she was still alive, she was taken to the hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries. Buthelezi’s body was found further away in a ditch in a field. Both complainants had been brutally assaulted on their heads with an unknown object. Zulu was arrested after a family member handed him over to the police.

In court, the prosecutor Siphosenkosi Dlamini led the evidence of the people who lived at the homestead where the complainants were renting, as well as the DNA chain of evidence. The police officials who were involved in the pointing out also testified in court. While conducting the pointing out, Zulu had escaped from custody and was rearrested a few hours later. For this charge, the state presented the evidence of the two police officials who had accompanied Zulu to conduct the pointing out.

In aggravation of sentence, Dlamini led the testimonies of the complainant’s family members, who told the court how the incident had affected their lives. Amanda's father told the court that their entire family had been negatively impacted by the incident. Minenhle’s aunt told the court that Minenhle’s grandmother, who was her (Minenhle’s) primary caregiver, was deeply saddened by the incident and has since fallen ill. Both families expressed their confusion as to the motive behind the killings. They said that Zulu was not remorseful and that he had killed defenceless women.

Zulu was sentenced to a term of life imprisonment for each count of murder and eight years imprisonment for escaping from lawful custody. He will serve an effective sentence of life imprisonment. This sentence underscores the seriousness with which the justice system views crimes of this nature. The accused in this matter snuffed out the lives of two young women. The NPA remains resolute in our pursuit of justice on behalf of the victims of crime.

Issued by:

Natasha Ramkisson-Kara

NPA Regional Spokesperson KZN Division

0716700229