Velly Teddy ‘Simbarara’ Thwala (40) from Barberton in Mpumalanga has been convicted of the premeditated murder of his girlfriend Nontobeko Nosipho Msithini (19), and sentenced to life imprisonment by the Mpumalanga Division of the High Court.

According to the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) Mpumalanga spokesperson, Monica Nyuswa, Thwala was seen pushing a bag, with blood dripping from it, in a trolley. Community members forced him to open the bag and found Msithini’s body inside.

“On the evening of February 18, 2023, Thwala fell asleep. When he woke up, he realised that his girlfriend was no longer in his house. He was informed that she was seen at a certain tavern with her ex-boyfriend. He got angry and, armed with a knobkerrie, went to look for her. He assaulted her with the knobkerrie all over her body while dragging her towards his house. When he noticed that she was no longer breathing, he put the body in a black bag,” she said.

Nyuswa added that Thwala terminated the services of his legal representative and elected to conduct his defence. He denied the allegations levelled against him and pleaded not guilty.

“The state prosecutor, Antionette Nkosi, led the testimonies of several witnesses. One told the court that he saw Thwala assaulting the woman until she became unconscious. Other witnesses testified that they saw Thwala push the body in a trolley to the dumping site. The confession Thwala made upon his arrest was also admitted in court.”

According to Nyuswa, Nkosi addressed the court about the seriousness of the offence the accused was convicted of and the prevalence of femicide cases in the country.

“The presiding judge remarked that the victim died the most painful death at the hands of Thwala, who was supposed to love her. Thwala had no regard for her life after he violently assaulted her and even extinguished his cigarette on her lips before she died.”

The court declared Thwala unfit to possess a firearm in terms of the Firearms Control 60 of 2000.