WOMAN SENTENCED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR PARTNER’S MURDER IN MPUMALANGA

A 26-year-old woman has been sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering her partner by stabbing him three times during an argument at his home in Badplaas, Mpumalanga.

Lindokuhle Peggy Shongwe was sentenced by the Mpumalanga High Court in Mbombela on Tuesday, 13 October 2026, for the murder of 30-year-old Comefriday Silindile Mkhonza.

The incident occurred on 21 June 2025 when the couple, who were in a domestic relationship, allegedly became involved in a heated argument at Mkhonza’s residence.

According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Mkhonza’s nephew overheard the argument and left the house. He later received a call from Shongwe, who was using Mkhonza’s cellphone, claiming that her partner had stabbed himself.

Upon returning, the nephew found Mkhonza lying in a pool of blood but still responsive. He was rushed to a local clinic, where he was pronounced dead.

Shongwe fled the scene and was later arrested.

During the trial, she pleaded not guilty, claiming she did not know how Mkhonza sustained the fatal injuries. She alleged that the couple had struggled over a knife.

However, evidence presented by state advocate Senzo Zindela contradicted her version. A doctor who examined Mkhonza’s body testified that the depth of the stab wounds indicated they could not have been self-inflicted.

The court rejected Shongwe’s explanation and found no substantial and compelling circumstances to justify a sentence below the prescribed minimum.

The court also heard about the emotional, psychological and financial impact of Mkhonza’s death on his family through a victim impact statement prepared by his mother.

In addition to the life sentence, Shongwe was declared unfit to possess a firearm. Her application for leave to appeal was also dismissed.

The NPA welcomed the sentence, reaffirming the importance of holding perpetrators of gender-based violence and femicide accountable.

The authority also urged victims and survivors of domestic violence to report abuse to law enforcement agencies and seek assistance from available support services.