LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR MAN WHO MURDERED HIS PARTNER

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes the sentence of life imprisonment imposed by the Scottburgh Regional Court on Sibusiso Philani Hlongwa (42), following his conviction for the murder of his 34-year-old partner.

Hlongwa and the deceased were living together in the Mahlongwa area of Umkomaas when he murdered her in December 2024.

Evidence presented in court revealed that, on the evening of 25 December 2024, Hlongwa arrived home and asked the deceased to speak to him in an outbuilding. She agreed and followed him. At approximately midnight, family members heard the deceased screaming inside the room.

When they went to investigate, they found her bleeding profusely. She told them that Hlongwa had stabbed her before fleeing the scene. Paramedics were called, but the deceased was declared dead upon their arrival.

The matter was reported to the police, and they arrested Hlongwa the following day.

During the trial, Prosecutor Akhile Gcume led the evidence of the family members who found the deceased after the attack, as well as that of the investigating officer and the doctor who examined the deceased’s body.

The post-mortem report also formed part of the State’s case.

The State submitted victim impact statements compiled by two of the deceased’s family members and facilitated by Court Preparation Officer Nokukhanya Mkhize. 

In their statements, the family members described how their lives had changed for the worse following the deceased’s death and the trauma of witnessing her final moments.

In addition to the life sentence, Hlongwa was declared unfit to possess a firearm.

Curbing the scourge of gender-based violence and femicide remains an organisational priority for the NPA. 

Together with our partners in the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster, we will continue working to ensure that perpetrators of these offences are held accountable.

Issued by:

Natasha Ramkisson-Kara

NPA Regional Spokesperson

KwaZulu-Natal Division