Shocking details of how a woman planned and carried out the murder of her lover were revealed in court and on Tuesday April 9, the Pietermaritzburg High Court sentenced Nonjabulo Nokukhanya Nkosi, 37, and Xolani Skhumbuzo Mtambo, 38, to life and 15 years imprisonment, respectively, following their conviction on the murder of Nkosi’s lover, Dumisani Qwabe, 47, in the Nongoma area.
Nkosi was sentenced to a further five years imprisonment for theft. She had been in a romantic relationship with Mr Qwabe and at some point, she decided to kill him, said National Prosecuting Authority, Natasha Ramkisson-Kara.
“Nkosi approached Mtambo to arrange for a hitman to kill Qwabe, but the plan fell through,” she said.
“Nkosi then obtained a firearm and petrol to carry out the killing by herself,” said Ms Ramkisson-Kara.
“On October 25, 2021, Nkosi met Mtambo at a marketplace, where he loaded the firearm for her, and showed her how to use it. Thereafter, Qwabe received a call from Nkosi and left his house. Later that night, his motor vehicle was found engulfed in flames on the road between Nongoma and Pongola, with his burnt remains inside.”
Nkosi did not report to work the next day due to first and second-degree burns she had sustained to her left cheek and left hand.
Following Mr Qwabe’s death, his family members discovered that his cellphone and bank card were still active. Police investigations revealed that Ms Nkosi was using Mr Qwabe’s bank card and banking app to make cash withdrawals and pay for purchases. She was subsequently arrested, and an analysis of her cellphone records led to Mtambo’s arrest, three months later.
In court, the state, represented by advocates Alex Moolman and Nokulunga Ngcobo led the evidence of the police officers who attended the scene, as well as cellphone evidence confirming the communication between the accused, their location, and also the communication between Nkosi and Mr Qwabe.
The State also handed in evidence of WhatsApp messages between the accused before and after Mr Qwabe’s murder. Footage from CCTV cameras at the ATM where Nkosi used Mr Qwabe’s bank card, was also submitted as evidence.
“In aggravation of the sentence, the State handed in Victim Impact Statements compiled by Qwabe’s family members … (which) described Qwabe as a kind and supportive person who had a vested interest in the community. His family said they had difficulty coming to terms with his death, especially since he was killed in such a gruesome manner,” said Ms Ramkisson-Kara.
Nkosi was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder and five years imprisonment for theft.
Mtambo was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for murder. In sentencing him, the court considered the fact that he was a first-time offender and that he had not been present when the offence was committed, as substantial and compelling reasons to deviate from the minimum sentence of life imprisonment. Both accused were declared unfit to possess a firearm, added Ms Ramkisson-Kara.
