Friday, May 30, 2025 - The High Court of South Africa, Mpumalanga Division sitting in Breyten, has convicted and sentenced a 47-year-old man, Mandla Anthony Mazibuko to life imprisonment for the brutal m8rder of his girlfriend, Mbali Nelly Mokgawa.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in a statement on
Thursday, May 29, 2025, said Mazibuko k!lled Nelly in jealous rape after
she received a call from the father of her two children.
On the evening of 24 May 2024, the deceased had just
returned from work and contacted Mazibuko to fetch her.
The pair met along the road and proceeded to
Mazibuko’s residence in Extension 4, Standerton, where they consumed alcohol
and were later joined by three of his tenants.
At approximately 22:00, Mokgawa received a phone call from
the father of her two minor children. She informed him that she was at a party.
This enraged Mazibuko, who then demanded that she hand over her
cellphone.
When she refused, a violent altercation ensued. The tenants, alarmed by the situation, left the premises. The next morning, Mokgawa was found d3ad on the accused’s bed.
In court, Mazibuko pleaded not guilty and claimed that the
deceased had left and returned injured. However, State Advocate Themba Lusenga
led compelling testimony from multiple witnesses, including the tenants, which
directly linked the accused to the m8rder.
A post-mortem report confirmed that Mokgawa had sustained
extensive injuries and died from blunt force trauma to the head.
The court dismissed Mazibuko’s version as false and found
him to be an unreliable witness. Advocate Lusenga emphasised the senseless
brutality of the crime and described the accused as a jealous and possessive
partner who m8rdered Mokgawa over a phone call.
During sentencing proceedings, the deceased’s brother gave a
moving testimony on the devastating impact of the crime on the family,
especially Mokgawa’s two young children.
The State submitted that there were no substantial and
compelling circumstances to deviate from the prescribed sentence. The court
agreed, noting Mazibuko's lack of remorse, and sentenced him to life
imprisonment. He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
“The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes the
finalisation of this matter. We remain resolute in our pursuit of justice for
victims of crime, particularly those affected by gender-based violence and
femicide (GBVF),” NPA stated.
“GBVF is a national crisis and a priority for the NPA. We
are committed to holding perpetrators accountable and restoring dignity to the
victims and their families.”
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