Pongola Regional Court sentenced Smiso Sifiso Mpontshane (24) to life imprisonment for killing his former girlfriend, Nomathemba Lukhele (28) in 2016. He also received six years imprisonment for attempted murder and another six years imprisonment for possession of an unlicensed firearm.
In June 2016, the deceased was seated inside a vehicle with a male companion at Maphaya area when the accused emerged and fired several shots at them. Mpontshane died at the scene however the other person was not injured. A case of murder and attempted murder was opened at Jozini police station for investigation. The accused was arrested three days after the incident with an unlicensed firearm in his possession. He was kept in custody until his successful prosecution on 15 October 2018.
Another sentence was meted out to Cyril Cele (36) by Empangeni Regional Court on a separate incident of rape. Cele was renting a room at Iniwe area with a 28-year-old woman who was also renting a room next the accused. In December 2014, the victim went outside to fetch water from the tap when the accused grabbed her and forced her into his room where he repeatedly raped her. The victim reported the incident to the police and a case was opened at Empangeni police station. The Empangeni Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit investigators immediately arrested the accused. He made several court appearances until he was convicted and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for rape.
