Pietermaritzburg - Mixed emotions greeted the 18-year sentence imposed by the Pietermaritzburg High Court on a man who killed his fiancée at the Liberty Midlands Mall and then jumped off a bridge on to the N3 in July.
While Sindisiwe Charity Mshengu’s family felt that the sentence was too light, Nkululeko Ngubane’s relatives were satisfied.
Ngubane had pleaded guilty, saying he killed her after an argument. She allegedly told him she had an abortion last year because she did not want to have his children.
Her cousin, Nompilo Buthelezi, said after the sentencing that this was not true because Mshengu and Ngubane were not a couple then and she was on contraceptives.
She said he had disrespected the family by making the allegation.
Mshengu’s father, Mfanzakhe, said Ngubane had come to his house to collect his belongings with his new girlfriend before the murder.
“He should have gotten the life sentence,” he said.
The father told the court the previous day about the family’s emotional and financial struggles.
Judge Thoba Poyo-Dlwati found reasons not to give Ngubane a life sentence. These included that he was remorseful, pleaded guilty, apologised for his actions, tried to commit suicide and could be rehabilitated.
She spoke about the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign and said Ngubane had chosen to make Mshengu part of the statistics.
The judge said women must be free to make their own choices – to stay in a relationship or leave.
“You wanted to have power over her and control her emotions. You not only violated her, but also her family and 9-year-old son,” she said.
The judge said Ngubane’s actions were unforgiveable, but she hoped Mshengu’s family would forgive him and find closure.
The Mercury