Last week the Durban High Court sentenced a Doringkop man to a 20-year imprisonment for the murder of his pregnant girlfriend last December.

Lungani Gqwaru, 28, pleaded guilty and was convicted for the murder of Nokuphiwa Magwaza, 24, who was 22 weeks pregnant.

According to KZN National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Natasha Kara, Gqwaru and Magwaza were in a relationship and they both lived in Sakhamkhanya, Doringkop, outside KwaDukuza.

“At some point, prior to the incident in December 2020, he suspected her of cheating on him,” said Kara.

On the day of the murder, he visited her at her home and after some time they went for a walk.

Gqwaru then took her to a spot where he fatally assaulted her. He fled the scene.

Kara said unbeknown to the accused an eyewitness who knew Gqwaru saw him with Maqwaza just before her death.

“When Magwaza’s body was found, the witness told the community what he had seen. Community members then accosted him and called the police,” she said.

Gqwaru initially pleaded not-guilty but later changed his plea.

In handing down sentence, the presiding officer found substantial and compelling circumstances to deviate from the minimum sentence of life imprisonment.

The NPA said these circumstances included Gqwaru’s age, the fact that he had pleaded guilty, and that the murder was a crime of passion.