The Scottburgh Regional Court recenlty handed down a life imprisonment sentence to Phumlani Myende (30) for the murder of his partner Cynthia Goba in Malangeni, Umzinto in March last year.

Evidence before the court established that Myende and Goba were in relationship and lived together.

Before the incident, reports indicated that Myende went to a local tavern where he found his partner in the company of two other men. He became angry and confronted her, accusing her of failing to do his washing. The two men intervened and urged him to calm down. Thereafter, the four continued drinking together.

When the two men left the tavern, one of them returned at closing time and found Myende assaulting Goba by punching her and repeatedly trampling on her head.

“When the witness attempted to intervene, Myende produced a knife and threatened to stab him,” said Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, National Prosecuting Authority regional spokesperson.

“The witness left and returned with the man who had been in their company earlier. They found that Myende was still assaulting Goba who was lying motionless on the ground.”

The men informed Myende that they were calling the police. After hearing this, he lifted Goba and carried her away, stating that they were going home.

“The witnesses subsequently returned to their homes and only learnt of her death the next day after Myende was arrested at his homestead.”

During the trial, prosecutor Akhile Gcume presented evidence of several witnesses. The two men who had been in the company of Myende and Goba testified about the assault they had witnessed. Another witness testified that in the early hours of March 18, Myende knocked on her door and informed her that he had killed his girlfriend. She accompanied him to where she was lying before alerting other community members.

A further witness testified that at about 23:00 on March 17, Myende approached him seeking assistance to carry his girlfriend home. Myende claimed that the deceased was intoxicated and unable to walk. On arriving at the scene, the witness discovered that Goba’s body was cold and had no pulse. He informed Myende that she had died and left the scene.

A victim impact statement prepared by Goba’s family detailed the profound trauma, grief, and emotional devastation they have endured since her death.

In addition to the life sentence, Myende was declared unfit to possess a firearm.

“The sentence sends a strong message that violence against women will not be tolerated and that perpetrators of gender-based violence and femicide will face the full might of the law. It also reflects the criminal justice system’s commitment to ensuring accountability for offenders and justice for victims and their families,” added Ramkisson-Kara.

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