Life Sentence for Valentine’s Day Femicide
03 April 2025
Life Sentence for Valentine’s Day Femicide
The High Court of South Africa, Eastern Cape Division, sitting in Butterworth, sentenced Zolisa Doli (34) to life imprisonment for the murder of his girlfriend, Sixolile Msatywa (25), on 14 February 2023 at their village of Mathukwini in the Qoboqobo area of the Centane district. The court sentenced him to a further five years' imprisonment for the assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm of his girlfriend’s sister.
On the morning of the fateful day, Doli went to his girlfriend’s place of residence in the company of a young man. He asked the young man to call her from her home to collect her present for Valentine’s Day, and she indeed came. Shortly thereafter, the deceased siblings heard her screaming and they went out to investigate. They found her boyfriend repeatedly stabbing her with a knife. He was only stopped by an elderly man who was passing by.
The girlfriend was rushed to the hospital with 18 stab wounds. While she was hospitalised, Doli went to her home again, asking about her whereabouts. When he was told that she was in the hospital, he left, saying he was going to the hospital to finish her off. He was also chased by his girlfriend’s sister with a knife, alleging that she was the one who caused the deceased to cheat on him. The sister successfully outran him, and the police were called, but did not find the attacker.
The deceased had been admitted to Butterworth Hospital but was later transferred to Frere Hospital in East London, where she succumbed to her wounds on 21 February 2023. Doli was arrested two days later while still on the run. During the trial, the accused maintained his innocence to an extent of labelling state witnesses as liars who implicated him because they did not approve of his relationship. He also testified, under cross-examination, that he was angry that his family contributed R5000 towards the funeral of the deceased, even though she was not killed by him.
State Advocate Loyiso Methuso argued that gender-based violence and femicide are escalating in this country, with some men thinking they can do anything to their partners and get away with it. Time has come for the courts to ensure that they meter out appropriate punishments for those convicted of serious violent offences against women, he added.
The NPA daily prosecutes hundreds of such matters that affect the safety and well-being of our communities and ensures justice for victims of crime.
Issued by:
Luxolo Tyali
NPA Regional Spokesperson
Eastern Cape Division
Tel: 0475012630
Cell: 0735559292
Email: ltyali@npa.gov.za