Mbombela - A Mpumalanga amputee was jailed for life by the Nelspruit Circuit of the North Gauteng High Court on Thursday for shooting and killing his wife.
Godfrey Sefwayi Sengwane, 62, was found guilty of killing Zodwa Mdlalane Sengwane, 58, on March 3 last year, a Sapa correspondent reported.
Sengwane, from Sand River Trust near Hazyview, has an artificial leg following a work accident in 1982.
He was also convicted of intimidating his daughter Cynthia Sonto Sengwane, 33, and possession of an illegal 9mm Norinco semi-automatic pistol and ammunition.
Passing sentence, Judge Ebenhaezer Jordaan said according to the accused's family, he was a good husband and father who supported all his children, including his two grandchildren.
“The family said before this incident all was well and he was not short-tempered. The problem is that he was too emotional and was jealous. He suspected his wife was having an affair with his neighbour's son.”
He shot his wife six times.
Jordaan said the man earlier denied the charges against him. But when he gave evidence in mitigation, he changed his version completely.
“But still, he denied intimidating Cynthia. He clearly was not open enough because some of the evidence was disputed by the State,” Jordaan said.
He said the shooting happened after his wife hugged the young man.
“After the young man left, she started insulting him for nearly two hours, saying she did not want him anymore and that she was not returning to his house.
“That broke his heart. He then fetched a firearm from under the seat of his bakkie and shot at her.”
Jordaan sentenced Sengwane to three years for intimidation, 15
years for possession of an unlicensed firearm, three years for possession of ammunition, and life for murder.
He said the other sentences would run concurrently with the life sentence.
Sapa