A woman accused of shooting her former boyfriend and father of her child with an AK-47 rifle in a fit of rage on Monday appeared in the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate’s Court yesterday on a charge of attempted murder.

Nokulunga Penelope Mthethwa (39), from Henley Dam, was arrested earlier this week after a video went viral showing her towering over the injured man, who was lying on the ground after she allegedly shot him with the assault rifle. The victim is still in hospital receiving treatment.

The footage also shows her kicking him and striking him with the rifle during the incident in Azalea, Pietermaritzburg. A resident who witnessed the attack told The Witness that Mthethwa got out of a car carrying a gun.

“She argued with the man, who was walking with another woman, and then shot him multiple times,” the witness said.

According to uMgungundlovu police spokesperson Sergeant Sifiso Gwala, further investigations revealed that Mthethwa had an argument with the victim in Azalea before later shooting him three times in the abdomen and once in the leg.

A multidisciplinary task team – including the uMgungundlovu SAPS District Task Team, uMgungundlovu SAPS Trio Crimes Task Team, the SAPS E2 District Project, and Aphiwe Protection Services – traced the firearm and confirmed that it belonged to Mthethwa’s current boyfriend, who is a security guard.

Following her first court appearance yesterday, Mthethwa was transferred to Westville Correctional Centre. She is expected to return to court on February 6 for her bail application.