10 years for girlfriend’s murder

A young man was sentenced to ten years in prison after pleading guilty to strangling, burning and burying his girlfriend.

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Durban - Emotions ran high at the Pietermaritzburg Regional Court on Tuesday as a young man pleaded guilty to strangling, burning and burying his girlfriend.

In terms of a plea agreement with the State, 25-year-old Thamsanqa Justice Ntenza pleaded guilty to the murder of 23-year-old Nompilo Ndlovu, who was killed on Christmas Day 2013.

Ntenza was sentenced to 15 years in prison, five of which were wholly suspended. He will serve an effective 10 years.

Some of Ndlovu’s family members who were present in court were overwhelmed by emotion and began sobbing.

Ndlovu’s dismembered and burned body was found in a shallow grave behind Ntenza’s house on December 26. Her hands and feet had been hacked off.

Ndlovu had been studying electrical engineering at the Msunduzi FET College and was an active ANC Youth League member.

In his plea, Ntenza, who is a boilermaker and welder by profession, said on the night of the murder, he and Ndlovu argued because Ntenza had refused to walk Ndlovu home.

“She started raising her voice and I asked her to be quiet, as I did not want my parents to hear that there was a female in my room,” Ntenza said.

He said Ndlovu became angry and continued to shout. That is when he walked up to her and grabbed her by the throat. “When I let go of her throat, she fell down. I tried to shake her and realised she was dead,” said Ntenza, adding that he had committed the crime in a fit of anger.

He explained that he became afraid and tried to get rid of Ndlovu’s body. He tried to burn the body behind his house and then threw sand over it to extinguish the flames. The following day, police discovered Ndlovu’s body in the shallow grave. Ntenza was immediately arrested and charged.

Ntenza, who has a Grade 12 education and two minor children to support, said he was deeply remorseful for his actions, and his family had tried to assist Ndlovu’s family with funeral expenses.

He is also a first offender.

Prosecutor Ricky van Wyk confirmed that both Ndlovu’s family and the investigating officer in the case were satisfied with the sentence in terms of the plea agreement.

“The state is satisfied that the sentence is appropriate,” he said.

Ndlovu’s aunt, Winifred Mthembu, said the family had finally received some closure.

“Our beautiful Nompilo was killed so brutally, but finally she can rest in peace,” she said.

Daily News