LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR FEMICIDE

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes the life sentence imposed by the Dundee Regional Court on Mandla Petros Mthembu (55) for the murder of his girlfriend, Nokuthula Shabalala (38).

Mthembu pleaded guilty to the murder in terms of Section 112 of the Criminal Procedure Act. The offence was committed in September 2025 in the Craigside area of Dundee.

Mthembu and Shabalala (the deceased) were in a relationship and lived together.

In his plea, Mthembu said that on 29 September 2025 he arrived home and, some time later, an argument arose between him and the deceased about an incident from the previous night. He said the deceased became angry, went outside and returned with a stick, which she used to beat him.

Mthembu said he took the stick from her, then picked up a screwdriver and stabbed her in the chest. He said the deceased went to sleep in a separate bedroom without seeking medical attention. The following morning, he left her in bed while he went to work. When he returned, he found her still in bed and, on checking on her, realised she was not breathing. He reported the matter to the police and was subsequently arrested.

A post-mortem report concluded that the deceased died from a wound to her chest.

In court, Prosecutor Sbonelo Mncadi handed in a Victim Impact Statement compiled by the deceased’s mother and facilitated by Court Preparation Officer Victoria Griffiths. The mother said she had pleaded with her daughter on several occasions to leave Mthembu, but her daughter had returned to him. 

She also said that, as an elderly and frail person, she had needed her daughter’s care, which she could no longer receive.

Mthembu was sentenced to life imprisonment and declared unfit to possess a firearm.

The sentence sends a strong message that violence against women will not be tolerated and that perpetrators of gender-based violence and femicide will face the full force of the law. 

The NPA remains committed to holding offenders accountable and pursuing justice for victims and their families.

Issued by:

Natasha Ramkisson-Kara

NPA Regional Spokesperson

KwaZulu-Natal Division