The man who horrified the community two years ago by mutilating and beheading his one-year-old niece has been jailed for life.
Simphiwe Zulu (32) appeared in the Madadeni High Court last week, where it was heard how, after a quarrel with relatives in Nquthu, he decapitated the little girl, cut her stomach open and hung her intestines from the roof.
He also tied the severed head around his waist.
When police arrived at the homestead in the Mpumelelweni area, Zulu was locked in the house and was said to be ‘high on drugs and very aggressive’.

His mother, who had fled the house with other relatives, gave the police a door key.
Police entered the house and were met by the horrifying scene.
Zulu resisted arrest, but was finally subdued.
He had earlier hit his mother with an iron rod and had broken furniture in the house.

A case of murder was opened and assigned to a dedicated official, Detective Constable Khoza, who managed to successfully oppose bail. Zulu underwent a mental assessment and was found to be fit / mentally capable to stand trial.
On Wednesday last week, he was sentenced to:
1. Count one: Murder – life sentence (direct imprisonment);
2. Count two: Assault GBH – two years’ direct imprisonment;
3. Count three: Malicious damage to property – one year direct imprisonment.
The Umzinyathi district commissioner, Major General Francis Slambert, welcomed Zulu’s sentencing, which she said sends a strong message that violent crimes, especially those against vulnerable children, will not be tolerated.

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