Man gets 24 years for murdering partner, victim found dead by their child

A 50-year-old man was sentenced to an effective 24 years’ direct imprisonment by the Pinetown Regional Court after being convicted of murdering his partner, whose body was discovered by their young son. This was confirmed by National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) KwaZulu-Natal regional spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara on Monday. According to Ramkisson-Kara, the man was also convicted of contravening section 49(1)(a) of the Immigration Act 13 of 2002.

The murder took place in November 2024 in the Dassenhoek area of Marianhill, where the accused and the deceased had lived together as a couple and shared a child. The court heard that the couple’s minor child stumbled upon the horrific scene after walking into their room. “The deceased’s body was discovered after the couple’s minor child entered their room and found his mother lying lifeless on the floor while his father was asleep on the bed,” said Ramkisson-Kara.

The child ran to alert neighbours and the accused’s brother, who rushed to the scene. “Upon arriving at the scene, they woke the accused and attempted to resuscitate the deceased.” Despite their efforts, the woman could not be revived, and paramedics were called to the scene but were unable to save her. Evidence presented in court showed that the deceased had approached a neighbour for help shortly before the murder, telling them that the accused was assaulting her. “When neighbours attempted to intervene, the accused told them to mind their own business,” Ramkisson-Kara said.