Herold Mokoena (25) was sentenced to 23 years’ direct imprisonment in the Mpumalanga Division of the High Court on Wednesday, August 26, for murdering his girlfriend, Shaleen Nyakallo Manyike.

The sentence follows a plea and sentence agreement concluded between the state and the accused in terms of Section 105A of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977.

Argument over voice note leads to fatal strangulation

National Prosecuting Authority provincial spokesperson Monica Nyuswa said Mokoena and Manyike were in a domestic relationship and lived together in Bushbuckridge. On August 29, 2024, Manyike received a WhatsApp voice note from a man, prompting Mokoena to question her about its origin.

According to Nyuswa, when she was unable to explain, Mokoena became enraged and strangled her until she became unresponsive.

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According to the agreed statement of facts placed before the court, Mokoena realised Manyike was no longer breathing and placed her body on the bed. He then contacted her grandmother, falsely claiming that she had fallen from the bed and was unresponsive. The deceased was subsequently taken to hospital in the accused’s father’s vehicle, where she was certified dead. Mokoena was later arrested and charged with murder.

State highlights impact of gender-based violence

In mitigation of sentence, Nyuswa said the defence submitted that the accused had pleaded guilty, demonstrated remorse for his actions, and suffered from a medical condition. On this basis, the defence requested the court to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment.

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In aggravation of sentence, state advocate Senzo Zindela argued that murder remains a serious and prevalent offence in South Africa, particularly in the context of domestic and gender-based violence.

He emphasised that the deceased was a young mother whose life was brutally cut short by the very person who was expected to love, protect and care for her. She suffered a painful and senseless death in what should have been the safety and comfort of her own home.

The state also submitted the post-mortem report and photographic evidence in support of its submissions.

Nyuswa said the court accepted the plea and sentence agreement.