A 38-year-old Northern Cape man was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment for intimate femicide after stabbing his life partner to death with a knife.
A 38-YEAR-old Northern Cape man, Zukisani Mpinda, was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment for intimate femicide after stabbing his life partner, Katrina Seekoei, to death with a knife.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Mojalefa Senokoatsane said that on the day of the incident, Mpinda voiced his displeasure to a witness about Seekoei’s behaviour while they were at a tavern.
“The accused indicated to the witness that ‘he would show her tonight’. After the three returned home later that evening, they arrived at their place of residence and they all went to sleep. The following morning the accused woke up the witness, who had slept in another room, and informed him that the deceased was dead. It was alleged that the accused stabbed the victim in the neck during the night while she was sleeping,” said Senokoatsane.
He stated that Mpinda pleaded not guilty to the charge, claiming that Seekoei had left their home during the night and later returned home injured and died in their room.
“During the trial in the Colesberg Regional Court, State prosecutor Phakiso Thebane urged the court to impose the maximum sentence applicable for such a senseless murder by a man who was supposed to have been the main protector and not the one who killed the victim,” said Senokoatsane.
“The accused did not show any remorse as he did not tell the truth about what happened that night and what led to him killing his life partner.
“The prosecutor further argued that a clear message should be sent to the community that the courts and the justice system are indeed serious in fighting gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) related matters by sentencing the accused appropriately.”
Senokoatsane added that the NPA would fight the scourge of GBVF in the courts by ensuring that all perpetrators were sentenced appropriately without fear, favour or prejudice.
“We will continue raising community awareness campaigns – not only during the 16 Days of Activism but also throughout the year.”
