A man who had brutally assaulted and murdered his new girlfriend, will serve a life sentence behind bars for the heinous deed, to which he pleaded guilty. 

This week, the Polokwane High Court sentenced 32-year-old Nhlanhla Gift Mathye from Dennilton to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of his 54-year-old girlfriend.

He was also sentenced to an additional 15 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances and 10 years for defeating the ends of justice. The sentences will run concurrently.

National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson, Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi, said when pleading to the charges he faced, Mathye said in his statement,  made in terms of Section 112(2) of the Criminal Procedure Act, that he and the deceased had been in a romantic relationship for only two months.

“On 24 September (last year), she invited him to accompany her on a visit to her AVBOB Funeral Insurance clients in the B90 farm area in the Sekhukhune district. They met at the Groblersdal Mall and drove together to the location. Due to poor road conditions, they left the vehicle and proceeded on foot.

“During the walk, an argument broke out. The deceased allegedly threatened Mathye with a stone, but then fled. Enraged, he chased after her and struck her on the head with a stone, causing her to fall. While she lay on the ground, he continued to strike her head repeatedly with another stone until she was unresponsive and bleeding. Mathye then dragged her body to a nearby river and dumped it,” said Malabi-Dzhangi.

After the murder, Mathye took his girlfriend’s car, her handbag, and other valuables and drove to his home. He was arrested two days later. 

“The following day (after the murder), he used her vehicle to travel to work. He was arrested on 26 September in Groblersdal after security personnel found him in possession of the deceased’s belongings. He subsequently confessed to the crime,” said Malabi-Dzhangi.

In aggravation of sentence, court preparation officer Morongwe Moife presented a Victim Impact Statement from the deceased’s daughter.

She described the devastating impact of her mother’s death, stating that her mother had been the family’s sole provider. The daughter was left to care for her younger sister and said they now struggle to afford necessities like food and electricity.

State Advocate Rendani Mulaudzi argued that Mathye’s guilty plea was not sincere but rather a response to overwhelming evidence.

“She emphasised that the murder occurred during the early stages of their relationship, a time typically marked by affection and emotional bonding, and urged the court not to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment. The court agreed with the State and imposed the sentence accordingly,” said Malabi-Dzhangi. 

Advocate Ivy Thenga, Director of Public Prosecutions in the Limpopo Division, welcomed the judgment and commended the prosecution team for their diligence and commitment to justice.

Thenga said: “This was a heinous and senseless act of violence that tragically ended the life of a woman who had placed her trust in the accused. Crimes of this nature are deeply disturbing and have far-reaching emotional, social, and economic consequences for families and communities.

“The court’s decision to impose a life sentence reflects the seriousness with which the justice system views gender-based violence and femicide. It sends a strong and unequivocal message that such brutal acts will not be tolerated in our society and that those who commit them will be met with the full might of the law.”

chevon.booysen@inl.co.za

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