Ndwedwe wife murderer sentenced to life
Mgandela's mother said she had trusted Cele to care for her daughter and grandchildren but that the family were now fearful of him.
Ndwedwe’s Bhekukwanda Ian Cele will spend the next 25 years in prison after being convicted of murdering his wife.
He was accused of killing Nwabisa Joy-Grace Mgandela in June 2020 and was sentenced to life imprisonment in the Durban High Court last week.
The court heard details of the horrific murder where Cele, accompanied by unknown men, strangled Mgandela at the home in which they had previously lived together.
Cele had moved out of the house after their marriage broke down.
Upon his return with the men, Cele assaulted Mgandela before wrapping a rope around her neck and tying it to a rafter above the bathtub.
She would later die of the injuries and he was arrested the next day.
State prosecutor, advocate Gugu Xulu, argued that it was clear the men had entered the home and acted in execution of a common purpose.
She led eyewitness testimonies as well as victim impact statements from Mgandela’s family.
Mgandela’s mother said she had trusted Cele to care for her daughter and grandchildren but that the family were now fearful of him.
She also spoke of the traumatic loss and the impact that Mgandela’s death had on the family.
“The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) hopes that the sentence will serve as a deterrent to like-minded individuals,” said NPA spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara.
“Curbing the scourge of gender-based violence and femicide is one of our key priorities. We commend the hard work done by the prosecution and Saps in securing this conviction.”
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