MTHATHA - A 36-year-old man from the Eastern Cape has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his 22-year-old girlfriend, Alindiwe Nodlabi.
Nkosiyethu Sizeke shot and killed Nodlabi in the head following a dispute over cash.
Evidence presented at the Eastern Cape Division of the High Court in Mthatha heard how Sizeke had given Nodlabi R25 000 to keep for him before he was arrested on an unrelated matter.
Upon his release from custody, he demanded his money back, but Nodlabi no longer had it.
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According to the Eastern Cape National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Luxolo Tyali, the court heard that an argument followed and Sizeke assaulted Nodlabi at their home.
“To escape the assault, the deceased informed him that the money was with her mother. The accused, accompanied by two associates who acted as runners in his drug-dealing operations, went to the deceased's family home, where they confronted her mother and sister to recover the money,” Tyali said.
When the money could not be produced, Tyali Nodlabi refused to go back home butSizeke forced her into the car as they drove back.
This was when the events took a turn.
“Upon arrival, the accused shot the deceased in the head in the presence of his two associates. She died at the scene. He then instructed the two men to remove her body from the property. Community members later discovered the body,”Tyali said.
Sizeke was subsequently arrested and found in possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
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In addition to the life sentence for murder, he was sentenced to 30 years for unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, and five years for defeating the ends of justice.
During the handing down of the sentence, Judge Mbulelo Jolwana said the scourge of femicide continues to escalate across South Africa.
Jolwana reflected on the death of women in Ekurhuleni whose bodies were found dumped in various places further highlighted the aggravating circumstances surrounding the offence.
Eastern Cape Acting Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Samkelo Mtwana, welcomed the sentence, saying the NPA remains committed to vigorously prosecuting perpetrators of gender-based violence and femicide