MAN JAILED FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER AFTER SETTING GIRLFRIEND ALIGHT

29 May 2025

MAN JAILED FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER AFTER SETTING GIRLFRIEND ALIGHT


The Sterkspruit Regional Court has sentenced Motlatsi Mpharu (31) to 25 years of direct imprisonment for the attempted murder of his girlfriend, Mpho Kutoana (20), in a shocking act of gender-based violence (GBV) committed in Slindini Village, Sterkspruit. On 05 January 2025, Kutoana was visiting Mpharu at his home when a heated argument broke out after he accused her of infidelity. In a fit of rage, Mpharu tied her up using an electric cable, stabbed her in the left thigh, doused her with petrol, and set her alight. During the attack, he also sustained burn injuries while attempting to extinguish the flames. Kutoana suffered severe burn wounds and was admitted to Mpilisweni Hospital, where she remained for two months. The incident has left her with permanent disabilities. Mpharu was arrested on 12 January 2025, a week after the incident.

During sentencing, Regional Court Prosecutor Anele Magibile urged the court to impose a sentence that reflects the brutality and seriousness of the crime. In aggravation, the prosecution presented harrowing testimony from the victim, who described how the attack had devastated her life. Her arms were shortened by the burns, leaving her unable to perform basic tasks such as bathing or making her bed. She now relies on her parents for daily care, has difficulty walking, and her vision has deteriorated. She has had to abandon her distance-learning studies towards an IT qualification and is unable to care for her child.

Prosecutor Magibile stressed that this case must be viewed within the broader context of the GBV crisis afflicting South Africa. “A day does not go by without reports of women and children being attacked or killed by men. Society demands harsher sentences for such heinous crimes, and the Court must restore public confidence in the justice system,” he said.

Welcoming the sentence, Eastern Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Barry Madolo, stated: “This brutal attack is a sobering reminder of the persistent danger many women face in their own homes and relationships.” The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring justice for victims of gender-based violence and supporting survivors throughout the legal process.

Issued by:

Luxolo Tyali
NPA Regional Spokesperson
Eastern Cape Division
Tel: 047 501 2630
Cell: 073 555 9292
Email: ltyali@npa.gov.za
Media Enquiries:
nmakupula@npa.gov.za / 068 268 2473