STUDENT SENTENCED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR MURDER OF FELLOW STUDENT

02 JUNE 2025

STUDENT SENTENCED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR MURDER OF FELLOW STUDENT

George, South Africa, The George Regional Court has sentenced Luyanda Mahlanza to life imprisonment for the murder of Nelson Mandela University student, Zimkhitha Ntshisela, after the State proved his self-defence theory as false. The State proved that Mahlanza, a second-year student at the same university’s George satellite campus, and the deceased were in her room on 06 June 2023 when it was noticed that something was happening inside the room. The two were the only people in her room. Witnesses to this suspicious action called the university student assistant to assist, and when he opened the door, he saw Mahlanza busy stabbing the deceased. The student assistant dived at the accused to get him off the deceased, and the knife fell on the floor. The student assistant restrained the accused, but the 22-year-old still attempted to stab the deceased while being restrained. Police arrested him the same day.

In his guilty plea, Mahlanza claimed that when he and the deceased got into her room, the deceased accused him of cheating and that she grabbed a knife and attempted to stab him. He disarmed her, and anger overcame him, and he started stabbing her. When he heard other students at the door, he stopped stabbing her, threw the knife under the bed and opened the door for them. Regional court prosecutor Adv Karin Barnard declined the accused’s guilty plea as his claims were not the true version of what happened. Adv Barnard told the court that the student assistant had to use a spare key to open the door, and when he opened it, the accused was still bent over the deceased, stabbing her, and he had to dive to remove the accused from the deceased.

Adv. Barnard argued that the accused did not plead guilty due to remorse. From the facts, he had no other way but to plead guilty. His guilty plea is part of his strategy to try and lessen his punishment. The Probation Officer’s report indicates that this court is dealing with an aggressive offender. Domestic violence has become such a huge problem. Like all other men before him, finding themselves in the same situation, anger is being given the blame. The victim is being blamed. Everything other than themselves.

This is a very serious crime he is convicted of. Not only was it committed against a young female victim, 20, but also a victim who was in a romantic relationship with him. It was committed on the property of a tertiary institution where young people come to study and develop their skills to not only better their own lives, but in most cases, also that of their families. When parents enrol their children in these institutions, which are mostly far from their family home, they trust their children will be safe.

Society at large should be protected against this accused and his problem with aggression. The court has a legal duty to protect society. One of the ways to do this is by imposing appropriate sentences to not only punish the offender but also assist with rehabilitation and deter would-be offenders. Given the situation with domestic violence-related offences, the court plays a vital role in the fight to eradicate this problem. There are no substantial and compelling circumstances that exist for the court to deviate from imposing the life sentence applicable. It is the State’s submission that this accused person cannot be released back into society.

The court agreed with the State and sentenced him to life imprisonment. Western Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, Adv. Nicolette Bell expressed shock at the callous murder of the young woman. “Our society has a huge challenge of gender-based violence and femicide. Sadly, this is affecting young people, and young women at institutions of higher learning are being affected by this scourge. It can never be overemphasised how important human life is, and therefore we will be vigorous in our pursuit of these cases to serve as a deterrent to would-be murderers,” she assured.

Issued by:

Eric Ntabazalila
National Prosecuting Authority
Regional Communications Manager – Western Cape
Tel: (021) 487 7308
Mobile: 073 062 1222