YOUTH SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS’ IMPRISONMENT FOR ATTEMPTING TO KILL GRANNY

19 November 2025

YOUTH SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS’ IMPRISONMENT FOR ATTEMPTING TO KILL GRANNY

Willowvale – The Willowvale Regional Court has sentenced 32-year-old Nkosithandile Mtlaka to 15 years’ imprisonment for the attempted murder of 84-year-old Noqeshwa Dolisi. The elderly woman was brutally attacked while sleeping alone in her home in the Mandlutsha area of Willowvale during the early hours of 30 August 2025.

The ordeal began when the victim was awakened by the sound of someone forcefully trying to open the door to her room. She switched on the light, peeped through the window, and shouted at the intruder to leave. Sensing imminent danger, she armed herself with a bush knife and stepped out of her rondavel to alert her grandson, who was sleeping in a separate structure in the same yard. As soon as she stepped outside, the attacker emerged, armed with a knife, and advanced toward her. The victim managed to strike him on the forehead with the bush knife, causing a visible injury, but the blow did not stop him. He proceeded to stab her multiple times, inflicting lacerations measuring between five and ten centimetres. Believing he had overpowered her, the assailant fled, leaving her severely injured. Her grandson, awakened by the commotion, rushed to assist her and transported her to Butterworth Hospital, where she was admitted for two weeks. Following her discharge, the victim was taken to Cape Town for further care. Based on her description of the attacker, including the distinctive scar on his forehead, the police were able to identify and arrest Mtlaka. He later confessed to the crime and pleaded guilty to it.

During sentencing, the court heard the devastating long-term impact of the attack. The victim’s daughter explained that her mother continues to receive medical treatment, has suffered a decline in her mental functioning, now uses diapers, and has lost her eyesight due to the injuries she sustained. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes the sentence, which delivers justice for the victim and sends a clear message that violence against the most vulnerable members of society will not be tolerated. This case reaffirms the NPA’s commitment to combating violent crime and ensuring that perpetrators are removed from our communities.

Issued by:

Luxolo Tyali

Regional Spokesperson – Eastern Cape Division

National Prosecuting Authority

Tel: 047 501 2630

Email: ltyali@npa.gov.za