MTUBATUBA Regional Court last week sentenced Sibusiso Nyawo (45) to 30 years’ direct imprisonment for the murder of his partner, Silindile Msane (48).

The murder occurred in August 2024 in the Nkodibe area.

ALSO READ: Rhino Ops: Hope from the horn

In the early hours of 13 August 2024, Nyawo phoned his landlord and one of Msane’s friends, saying she was not breathing or moving.

He claimed she had earlier complained of body pains and feeling unwell.

When the landlord and friend arrived, they found Msane lifeless but with no blood or visible injuries. Believing she had died from an illness, police opened an inquest docket.

However, a few days later, the post-mortem revealed that Msane had bruises on her neck and shoulder, as well as a dislocated neck. The district surgeon concluded that she had died from blunt force trauma to the head and a dislocated neck, ruling the death unnatural.

During police questioning, Nyawo admitted in a statement that he had fought with Msane the night before her death, and had banged her head against a wall.

He said she was conscious when they went to sleep but had complained of feeling unwell.

In court, Prosecutor Sphelele Precious Mdluli presented Nyawo’s statement and the testimonies of the landlord and Msane’s friend, who confirmed that Nyawo had frequently assaulted Msane, sometimes using a bushknife.

A victim impact statement compiled by Msane’s sister revealed that Msane’s body bore old wounds from repeated abuse.
Although the prescribed minimum sentence for murder is life imprisonment, the court deviated after finding that Nyawo had tried to resuscitate Msane and sought help from others.

He was sentenced to 30 years’ in prison and declared unfit to possess a firearm.

Don’t have the ZO app? Download it to your Android or Apple device here:

HAVE YOUR SAY