LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR INTIMATE PARTNER FEMICIDE

10 OCTOBER 2025

LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR INTIMATE PARTNER FEMICIDE

The Scottburgh Regional Court has sentenced Funokwakhe Alois Thabethe (52) to life imprisonment after he pleaded guilty (Section 112(2) of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1997) to the murder of his girlfriend in November 2024. Thabethe and the deceased, Mbali Mkhize (25) were in a love relationship. In his guilty plea, he mentioned that she was always asking him for money to apply for an identity document, but never made the application. On the night of the incident, he confronted her about the money, and an argument ensued.

He said that he had assaulted her on her head with a stone before strangling her. When he realised that she was dead, he dumped her body on a nearby cliff. The following day, he told his nephew what he had done, and even though he told his nephew that he would hand himself over to the police, Thabethe fled the area and was arrested a week later.

In court, and following the guilty plea, Prosecutor Akhile Gcume handed in the probation officer’s report, detailing the impact of the incident on Mkhize’s family. Her mother said that their entire family is devastated by the loss. Thabethe was sentenced accordingly and declared unfit to possess a firearm.

The NPA welcomes the successful finalisation of this matter. Curbing the scourge of gender-based violence and femicide remains an organisational priority.

Issued by:

Natasha Ramkisson-Kara

NPA Regional Spokesperson

KZN Division

0716700229