Man jailed for life for girlfriend’s murder
The woman was assaulted with a stone and strangled.
The Scottburgh Regional Court sentenced Funokwakhe Alois Thabethe (52) to life imprisonment for murdering his girlfriend in November last year.
“Thabethe and the deceased, Mbali Mkhize (25), were in a love relationship,” explained Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, National Prosecuting Authority (KZN Division) regional spokesperson.
“In his guilty plea, he mentioned that she was always asking him for money to apply for an identity document, but never made the application. On the night of the incident, he confronted her about the money, and an argument ensued.”
Thabethe told the court that he assaulted her on her head with a stone before strangling her. When he realised that she was dead, he dumped her body on a nearby cliff.
The next day, he confided in his nephew and said that he would hand himself over to the police. Instead, he fled the area.
A week later Thabethe was arrested.
In court, and after the guilty plea, Prosecutor Akhile Gcume handed in the probation officer’s report, detailing the impact of the incident on Mkhize’s family.
“Her mother said that their entire family is devastated by the loss,” said Gcume.
At the sentencing, Thabethe, was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
“The NPA welcomes the successful finalisation of this matter. Curbing the scourge of gender-based violence and femicide remains an organisational priority,” added Ramkisson-Kara.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Like the South Coast Herald’s Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram
