Eastern Cape mom jailed for fatal attacks on stepmom and neighbour

A 29-year-old mother, Yvonne Brouwers, from Nxuba (formerly Cradock) in the Eastern Cape, was sentenced to an effective 10 years in prison for murder and culpable homicide.

Brouwers admitted to killing both her neighbour, Thembisile John Mondo, and her 64-year-old stepmother, Nontsokolo Mthathi, in two separate incidents.

The Nxuba Regional Court sentenced her to 10 years for murder and six years for culpable homicide, but ordered that the sentences run concurrently.

On February 1 last year, Brouwers fatally stabbed Mondo (age unknown), in a confrontation at his home on Masibambane Street, when she confronted him about hitting her child.

The argument escalated and according to Brouwers the deceased drew a knife and tried to stab her. Brouwers took the knife and stabbed Mondo, who died on the scene.

She then told neighbours what she had done, but no one believed her, so no one informed the authorities.

Only when Mondo’s body was discovered, was Brouwers arrested. Just 24 days later, while Brouwers was on bail, she hit her stepmother, Nontsokolo Mthathi, on the head with a coffee mug.

Mthathi was taken to the hospital, treated and sent home, but later died. The post-mortem revealed that she died from internal bleeding following the head injury.

Prosecutor Makabongwe Seyibokwe stressed that while the accused has pleaded guilty to both charges, it is essential that the court consider the violent nature of the crimes. “The state urges the court to impose a sentence that serves as both a deterrent to future violent crimes and a means of justice for the families,” he said.

Director of Public Prosecutions Barry Madolo supported the sentence, saying that these deaths are an example of how quickly situations of domestic violence and personal disputes escalate with fatal consequences.