A man from Mpumalanga, Josaya Ndlozi, 51, has been sentenced to life in prison for the brutal murder of his girlfriend and the mother of his three children, Sophie Phumzile Malele. Ndlozi fatally stabbed Malele after accusing her of infidelity, bringing a tragic end to their volatile relationship.
The couple, who lived together in Lydenburg with their children, had been experiencing difficulties in their relationship, which led Malele to apply for an interim protection order against Ndlozi. One of the conditions of the order was that Ndlozi was not allowed to assault, harass, or threaten Malele. Despite this, the couple continued living together.
Fatal Argument
On the morning of February 8, 2023, tensions reached a breaking point when Ndlozi and Malele got into an argument while their children were at school. The argument escalated, and Ndlozi stabbed Malele in her upper body. After realizing that she was no longer moving, he alerted a neighbor and called the police. Malele was declared dead at the scene, with her cause of death determined as multiple sharp-force injuries to the neck.
Conviction and Sentencing
Ndlozi was arrested and later pleaded guilty to premeditated murder in court. However, state advocate Senzo Zindela argued that Ndlozi’s guilty plea was not a reflection of genuine remorse but rather a response to the overwhelming evidence against him. Acting Judge Manthata, before delivering the sentence, emphasized that Ndlozi had deprived Malele of her constitutional right to life and left their three children without a mother. The judge also pointed out the ongoing crisis of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) in South Africa, calling it a “pandemic ravaging our communities.”
On Tuesday, the Mpumalanga High Court sentenced Ndlozi to life imprisonment and automatically declared him unfit to possess a firearm.
NPA’s Stance on GBVF
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) expressed satisfaction with the life sentence, reinforcing its commitment to addressing cases related to gender-based violence and femicide. Monica Nyuswa, the NPA’s regional spokesperson, highlighted the importance of holding perpetrators accountable and protecting vulnerable members of society.
“This case serves as a stark reminder of the need to protect vulnerable individuals in society and hold perpetrators accountable for their actions,” Nyuswa said.
The life sentence handed down to Ndlozi stands as a strong message in the fight against GBVF, a crisis that continues to claim the lives of many women in South Africa.