KEY POINTS
A Zwelitsha man has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of his 19-year-old girlfriend, Loveness Kumwenda, and her 74-year-old mother, Fihliwe Sgam.
The Keiskammahoek Magistrate’s Court handed down the sentence on March 4, 2025, after the accused pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including murder, rape, kidnapping, robbery, and housebreaking.
According to the IOL, the case began on March 4, 2023, when the victims were reported missing by Fihliwe’s son, who last saw them alive the previous evening.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Siphokazi Mawisa detailed the grim discovery: “Loveness’s body was found in a house under construction. She had been brutally murdered.” Community members quickly suspected her abusive boyfriend, who fled when confronted.
Hours later, Fihliwe’s body was discovered under her bed, “with a rope tightly wrapped around her naked body,” Mawisa added. The suspect was arrested on March 5, 2023, while attempting to flee to Gqeberha.
A community’s grief and justice served
The case highlights the pervasive issue of gender-based violence (GBV) in South Africa, where women and elderly individuals are often targeted.
The accused, who remained in custody for two years, was denied bail due to the severity of the crimes.
In addition to the life sentences for the murders, he received 15 years for rape, 10 years for robbery, eight years for kidnapping, and two years for housebreaking.
The sentencing has brought some closure to the grieving family and community, but it also underscores the urgent need for stronger measures to combat GBV.
According to recent statistics, South Africa has one of the highest rates of femicide in the world, with a woman murdered every three hours. Activists have called for increased support for victims, harsher penalties for perpetrators, and better enforcement of existing laws.
