A 45-year-old man who killed his ex-girlfriend’s boyfriend before he attempted to kill her has been sentenced to 15 years behind bars.
The Durban regional court on Monday found Siyabonga Nxumalo guilty of the murder committed on June 2020. He was subsequently sentenced to 15 years for the murder charge, and eight years for the attempted murder.
On the day of the incident, Nxumalo went to his ex-girlfriend’s house in the Malukazi area, south of Durban. Upon arrival, he found his ex-girlfriend with her new boyfriend and he shot the boyfriend twice, killing him.
He also attempted to kill his ex-girlfriend, however his gun jammed, then he fled the scene. He was arrested two months afterwards.
In court, the ex-girlfriend testified that the incident has left her highly traumatised. She told the court that she cannot bear to even refer to her boyfriend as the deceased.
Regional Court Prosecutor Shenaaz Hoosen led the evidence of the ex-girlfriend’s neighbour, as well as the police official who attended the scene.
There was no evidence in the docket that showed that the murder was planned or premeditated and as a result thereof the state was not able to charge Nxumalo as aforesaid.
In sentencing him, the court found that Nxumalo did not place before it any compelling or substantial circumstances which would have justified the court to deviate from the minimum sentence.
He was declared unfit to possess a firearm.
The National Prosecuting Authority welcomes the successful finalisation of this matter and acknowledges the hard work and dedication of the Prosecution and the Investigating team, said spokesperson Natasha Ramkissoon-Kara.
“One of our focus areas is the successful prosecution of gender-based violence and femicide cases and we hope that sentences of this nature will deter would-be offenders,” Kara added.
