A KwaZulu-Natal man, Siphamandla Khumalo, has been found guilty of the premeditated murder of his ex-girlfriend, Nomfundo Msibi, 34, after fatally stabbing her in the parking lot at Gateway Mall in Umhlanga, north of Durban, South Africa, last year.
The Durban High Court heard evidence from state advocate Krishen Shah, who presented CCTV footage showing Khumalo repeatedly stabbing Msibi. The prosecution also relied on testimonies from two state witnesses—Mthobisi Gasela, the victim’s boyfriend, and police officer Det-Const Boitumelo Phama—to prove its case.
Khumalo and another man fled the scene after the attack, leaving an okapi knife lodged in Msibi’s body.
On Monday, March 24, high court judge Jacqueline Henriques ruled that the state had proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Khumalo was guilty. She stated that the 22 stab wounds inflicted on Msibi demonstrated Khumalo’s clear intent to kill her.
“I am satisfied the murder was premeditated. The CCTV footage shows Khumalo repeatedly stabbing Msibi,” said Henriques.
According to the indictment, Msibi had ended her relationship with Khumalo and had limited communication with him as she was in a new relationship. On August 4, she was contacted by Khumalo’s brother, who asked her to meet at a store in Gateway Mall to finalize a lay-by garment for her child.
Henriques noted that Khumalo lured Msibi to the shopping mall under false pretenses and prevented her from escaping. “This was observed by Gasela,” the judge added.
Khumalo, represented by Legal Aid attorney Phumelele Danisa, pleaded not guilty and chose not to testify in his defense.
A victim impact statement from Msibi’s family has been submitted to the court. Meanwhile, Khumalo’s defense is expected to present arguments in mitigation and aggravation of sentencing in the next court proceedings.
