SANDF member

SOWETO, SOUTH AFRICA – JULY 21: Members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) inspect Ndofaya Mall after last weeks looting and violent protests on July 21, 2021 in Soweto, South Africa. The violent protests spread from KwaZulu-Natal after the incarceration of the former President Jacob Zuma. (Photo by Gallo Images/Sharon Seretlo)

SANDF member sentenced to life for murder of his wife

A SANDF member violated a protection order his wife had against him. He stabbed and shot her multiple times.

SANDF member

SOWETO, SOUTH AFRICA – JULY 21: Members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) inspect Ndofaya Mall after last weeks looting and violent protests on July 21, 2021 in Soweto, South Africa. The violent protests spread from KwaZulu-Natal after the incarceration of the former President Jacob Zuma. (Photo by Gallo Images/Sharon Seretlo)

A South African National Defense Force (SANDF) member, Welcome Sambo has been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Mpumalanga High Court for violation of a protection order and premeditated murder of his wife Wandisile Lucia Khoza.  

Sambo and Khoza were residing together and have two kids and in May 2019, Khoza had successfully applied for a protection order against Sambo.Some of the conditions set by the court were for the accused not to assault the deceased and not threaten to kill her.

SANDF MEMBER TO ROT IN JAIL 

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson in Mpumalanga, Monica Nyuswa said on 12 October 2021, the accused went to the deceased’s place of work, in Nkomazi Municipality Infrastructure offices to look for her, however, he did not find her, and he left.

The SANDF member later came to the deceased’s place of work, armed himself with a firearm and found the deceased. 

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Nyuswa said an altercation about an infidelity accusation ensued between the two, the accused stabbed the deceased several times and fired several shots at her. 

“As a result, the deceased died instantly, and the accused fled the scene. A Postmortem report showed that the deceased’s cause of death was determined to be fatal gunshot wounds to the body,” Nyuswa explained. 

SANDF member
SANDF bleeding funds dur to irregular spending and poor management. Image: LOYISO MPALANTSHANE/STOCK IMAGE

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS A SCOURGE IN SOCIETY

During the sentencing, Presiding Judge Vincent Ratshibvumo said domestic violence has become a scourge in society, where many women and children live in fear, no longer walking peacefully on the streets to enjoy their shopping, their entertainment to go to work, and enjoy peace at home. 

Ratshibvumo found no reasons to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence. 

For sentencing, both counts were taken together, and the SANDF member was sentenced to life imprisonment. The court also declared the accused unfit to possess a firearm.

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