A man who brutally assaulted and murdered his girlfriend, despite neighbours attempting to intervene, was handed a life sentence by Nongoma Regional Court.

Sphamandla Buthelezi (29) was arrested after beating Gabisile Sithole to death in October 2021 in their Pongola home.

The state witnesses testified in court that the couple, who lived together, often argued, resulting in Buthelezi assaulting Sithole, before again reconciling.

However, the court heard that on the day of the incident, Sithole ran to one of the neighbours for help when Buthelezi began assaulting her and, when neighbours tried to intervene, he threatened to beat them as well before dragging Sithole back to their room.

Neighbours called the police but Sithole was already dead – her body covered in bruises.

The post-mortem results showed abrasions all over her body, and multiple sjamboks injuries, with the cause of death being blunt force trauma.

Buthelezi was immediately arrested despite maintaining his innocence throughout.

He claimed Sithole was robbed and assaulted by someone else, and that he had only hit her with the heel of a shoe.

Regional court prosecutor Busisiwe Mfeka led the testimonies of the neighbours who had witnessed the assault, as well as evidence of the police official who attended the scene.

Mfeka also submitted a victim impact statement compiled by Sithole’s sister.

She said the family is still grieving their loss and asked the court to impose the strictest sentence as Buthelezi had committed a gruesome offence.