NPA SECURES 20 YEARS’ DIRECT IMPRISONMENT FOR MAN WHO MURDERED GIRLFRIEND

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has secured a 20-year direct imprisonment sentence for 37-year-old John Ntobeko Sibeko in the Breyten High Court for the murder of his girlfriend, Priscilla Mndebele, whom he strangled to death with a wire.

This sentence underscores the NPA's unwavering commitment to combating gender-based violence (GBV) and domestic violence by ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable and that justice is served for victims and their families.

Sibeko was charged with murder read with the provisions of Section 51(1) of the Criminal Law Amendment Act 105 of 1997, as the offence arose within the context of a domestic relationship.

The court heard that Sibeko and the deceased were involved in a domestic relationship and that Mndebele was a traditional healer. Sibeko pleaded guilty in terms of Section 112(2) of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977. In a plea statement read into the record by his legal representative, he admitted that his conduct was unlawful and punishable by law.

According to the plea statement, on 14 October 2025, Mndebele was at Sibeko's residence in Emzinoni when he received a telephone call instructing him to report for duty at Sasol. When he asked her about his access card, an argument ensued after she informed him that her ancestral spirits were against him going to work.

The argument escalated into a physical altercation during which Sibeko took a wire and strangled Mndebele. He stated that when he realised she was losing strength, he became fearful and locked her inside the residence before informing members of her family about what he had done.

Family members, assisted by neighbours, forced open the door and discovered Mndebele's lifeless body lying on a bed.

The court accepted Sibeko's guilty plea and convicted him as charged.

During sentencing proceedings, State Prosecutor Amos Mtshweni presented a post-mortem report confirming that the cause of death was strangulation.

The court also considered a Victim Impact Statement compiled by the deceased's mother and facilitated by Court Preparation Officer Faith Masango. In the statement, the family described the profound emotional trauma and pain they continue to endure following Mndebele's death. They portrayed her as a loving, caring and supportive family member whose loss has left an irreparable void in their lives.

In aggravation of sentence, the State emphasised the brutal nature of the offence and the serious breach of trust inherent in the crime. The State argued that the deceased suffered a horrific and painful death at the hands of the person who was expected to love, protect and care for her. Instead, she was subjected to fatal violence within the very relationship that should have offered her safety and support.

The State further submitted that offences of this nature continue to devastate families and communities, highlighting the urgent need for sentences that deter gender-based violence and protect vulnerable victims.

Advocate Mtshweni urged the court to impose an appropriate sentence that reflected the seriousness of the offence, served as a deterrent to would-be offenders, and sent a clear message that violence against women would not be tolerated.

In considering sentence, the court found that substantial and compelling circumstances existed to justify a deviation from the prescribed minimum sentence. The court took into account that Sibeko had pleaded guilty, thereby saving court time, was a first-time offender, and had demonstrated remorse for his actions.

The court subsequently sentenced Sibeko to 20 years' direct imprisonment and automatically declared him unfit to possess a firearm.

The NPA welcomes the sentence as a significant step towards justice for the victim and her family. The Authority remains steadfast in its efforts to combat gender-based and domestic violence and will continue to advocate for the protection of vulnerable members of society through the effective prosecution of offenders.

The NPA further encourages victims and survivors of domestic violence to report incidents to law enforcement authorities and seek available support services so that appropriate action can be taken against perpetrators.

Ends.

Issued by:

Monica Nyuswa

NPA Regional Spokesperson

Mpumalanga