Young KZN child's heartbreaking testimony reveals father's brutal attack on mother during birthday celebration
KZN man receives life sentence for murdering his partner in front of their young children.
Image: File
A young child from northern KwaZulu-Natal described to Ngwelezane Regional Court how his birthday was ruined when his father attacked his mother and brutally beat her to death.
The child's Victim Impact Statement was handed to the court in the sentencing of a 44-year-old man who has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder that took place in December 2024 at Oqwaleni.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the couple lived together with their two minor children. On the day of the murder, the family was celebrating one of the children’s birthdays with their neighbours when the accused attacked the mother.
“At some point, the accused, who was sitting inside, went outside to where the deceased was. He hit her with an open hand and told her to go inside. Once they were inside, he punched her on her face and then hit her with a knobkerrie all over her body. He then took a broomstick and beat her until it broke,” the NPA stated.
The man then pushed the woman forcefully against a table, breaking her neck.
During the trial, prosecutor Russell Mngoma led evidence from the couple’s minor son, who witnessed the killing together with his younger sibling. The child “described the entire incident in detail, and he mentioned that his father often hit his mother”.
A neighbour also testified, telling the court that the accused “often hit the deceased, and when the neighbours intervened, the couple would make up, only to become angry again.”
A medical doctor testified that “the deceased had died due to dislocated bones in her neck.”
To strengthen the State’s case, Mngoma presented Victim Impact Statements compiled by the couple’s son and the deceased’s mother, facilitated by Court Preparation Officer Saneliso Magdaline Sibanda.
In his statement, the boy said his mother died because “his father hit her on his birthday”.
He added that “it was supposed to be the happiest day of his life, but it became gloomy and sad because of what his father did.”
The deceased’s mother said the family “has suffered a massive loss” and that the children “are not coping well with the loss of their mother”.
The accused was sentenced to life imprisonment and declared unfit to possess a firearm.
NPA regional spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara said the NPA welcomes the successful conclusion of the case.
“We appeal to members of the community to come forward and speak out against gender-based violence. Curbing the scourge of gender-based violence is a priority for the organisation,” she said.