As Women’s Month concludes, the SAPS management in the Northern Cape has welcomed the life imprisonment sentence handed down by the De Aar Regional Court to Ettiene Kula, 39, who was convicted of stabbing his 27-year-old girlfriend to death.
AS WOMEN’S Month draws to a close, the South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Northern Cape, in collaboration with prosecutors, continues to secure significant sentences for crimes related to gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).
Provincial police spokesperson Sergeant Molefi Shemane said that the acting provincial commissioner, Major-General Luntu Ngubelanga, has welcomed the life imprisonment sentence recently handed down by the De Aar Regional Court to 39-year-old Ettiene Kula, also known as “Lielie”. Kula was convicted of the murder of his 27-year-old girlfriend, Delia Smile.
According to Sergeant Shemane, the court heard that on December 6, 2023, at approximately 6pm in Petrusville, Kula stabbed Smile in the chest with a knife before fleeing the scene. He also instructed a witness to dispose of the weapon. Emergency medical personnel declared Smile dead at the scene upon arrival.
The police swiftly traced and arrested Kula the same day. The investigating officer successfully opposed bail and Kula was later convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment. Additionally, the court declared Kula unfit to possess a firearm.
Sergeant Shemane said that the SAPS provincial and district management commended Detective Constable Johnny Nell of the Petrusville Detective unit for his thorough investigation, as well as the De Aar Regional Court prosecutor for securing the life sentence and ensuring that justice prevailed.
