Mpumalanga High Court sentences man to 25 years for murder
A 24-year-old man followed his girlfriend as she travelled to work, fatally shot her and fled from the crime scene. He pleaded guilty in court and was sentenced to 25 years behind bars.
The Mpumalanga Division of the High Court sentenced Sibusiso Happy Ngobeni, a 24-year-old man from Matsulu, to 25 years’ direct imprisonment yesterday, November 13, for the murder of his girlfriend, Yvonne Thandiwe Shabangu.
They had been living together at the time of her murder.
The Mpumalanga National Prosecuting Authority’s spokesperson, Monica Nyuswa, said that before the incident Ngobeni had accused Shabangu of cheating.
“On September 6, 2023, Shabangu left their home to go to work when Ngobeni followed her. He found her near Bonjour garage in Mbombela exiting a bus. While she was changing transport, the accused fatally shot her and sped off,” Nyuswa said.
During the police investigations, Ngobeni was identified and arrested. He pleaded guilty in court, and state advocate, Senzo Zindela, addressed the court about the scourge of gender-based violence.
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“A photo album and post-mortem report confirming that Shabangu’s cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds to the chest was presented. The court sentenced the accused accordingly and declared him unfit to possess a firearm.”
She said the NPA welcomes the speedy finalisation of the matter and is committed to pursuing justice for the victims of crime.
“We remain steadfast in our fight against gender-based violence and femicide,” she said.
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