A Durban metro cop has pleaded guilty to stabbing his girlfriend, Constable Yolanda Biancha Khuzwayo, 24, who was his colleague.
Sizwe Ngema, 28, was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment for murder, one year for theft, and one year for reckless driving. The sentences will run concurrently.
He stabbed a pregnant Khuzwayo on March 31, 2024, and posted a video of her taking her last breath.
Ngema stated in the Durban High Court on Thursday that he intended to kill Khuzwayo.
He stabbed her on her left face, left neck, mid anterior neck, left shoulder, right neck, both breasts, and left upper arm.
In his plea read by his counsel, advocate Simphiwe Mlotshwa, Ngema said they lived together with Khuzwayo in a flat located at Victoria Embankment in Durban CBD. He said their relationship became acrimonious, marred with abuse and conflicts inflicted by him on Khuzwayo.
He said in January 2024, Khuzwayo became pregnant and this was the happiest moment of his life. However, Khuzwayo started having doubts and contemplated terminating her pregnancy.
“I became aware of Khuzwayo’s intentions to terminate the pregnancy when I read WhatsApp messages that she had sent to her friend Anele Mkhize,” he said.
Ngema said they hosted a party in their flat and during that party, he consumed Hennessy cognac and cocaine. He said he was highly emotional and distressed due to the WhatsApp messages he saw regarding the termination of pregnancy.
“I decided to confront her (Khuzwayo) about the termination. I took a knife from the kitchen and went to confront her. During the confrontation, Khuzwayo told me that I am not the child’s father,” explained Ngema.
He said he was enraged and he repeatedly stabbed her. He admitted to taking Khuzwayo’s cellphone before fleeing the scene in his VW Polo.
He said while he drove at high speed on the M4 South, he lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a crash barrier.
Moreover, Mlotshwa said the investigating officer discussed the plea and sentence agreement with Khuzwayo’s mother and she was happy with it.
Talking about the general facts relevant to the agreed sentence, Mlotshwa said he has two children, a six-year-old daughter and an eight-year-old son. He said Ngema does not have previous convictions, and no charges pending against him.
“The accused has pleaded guilty without wasting the court’s time and he is extremely remorseful and tenders sincere apologies to the Khuzwayo family,” Mlotshwa added.
The father of Khuzwayo, Thabani Madonsela, said in the plea there is no mention of Ngema posting his daughter on social media after he killed her.
“That makes this matter more serious. From the onset, this boy had no remorse. The reason why Ngema pleaded guilty is because he had come to the end of the road,” said Madonsela.
He said Ngema had no money to pay for private attorneys. “None of his family members have said anything to us,” he said.
He said the plea agreement left a little bit of dissatisfaction on his part but he realises that he needs to accept that nothing will ever bring his daughter back.
Madonsela said from the part of the law, there was closure but the trauma they experienced will never go away. “I hope he will serve the sentence fully and eventually be remorseful for his own sake,” he added.
Outside the courtroom, the Khuzwayo family was crying and comforting each other.
The Ngema family left immediately after court proceedings.