MTHATHA – Investigating officer, Constable Putumani, ensured that a man, who was accused of murdering a girlfriend during Women’s Month 2020, has been sentenced to an effective 25 years in prison on Monday, 28 June 2021, by the Mthatha Regional Court in Mthatha. 

The incident occurred at Mandleni Junior Secondary School, in Xunu Locality. It was reported that the deceased Noloyiso Gqeba was at a school where she worked as a cleaner, when the 29 year old Mbuyiseli Nodongwe who was in a relationship with her, arrived and shot her with a fire-arm. Noloyiso died at the scene. The incident left co-workers shuttered as they witnessed tragic scenes of the cold-blooded murder of the woman and escaping of the suspect from the scene of crime.

On 25 August 2020, the suspects was subsequently arrested by the police in an operation which was ordered by the Provincial Commissioner through activation of the 72 hour mobilisation plan. The search began on the mountains and Gqogqorha forests until the suspect had no choice but to surrender himself at Mthatha Central Police Station.

In welcoming the sentence, the Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Liziwe Ntshinga indicated that the prison sentence will serve as a lesson and deterrent to the would be perpetrators of Gender Based Violence and Femicide. General Ntshinga further appreciated the work of the detectives to ensure that investigations into the incident were finalised within a very short period. “The sentencing of the suspect has been done in less than a year from the time this particular crime was committed. I have no doubt in my mind, justice has been served and that is what our communities need.” said Lieutenant General Ntshinga.

Source: South African Police Service