NMU student sentenced to life for girlfriend's murder
A Nelson Mandela University student who stabbed his former partner to death in her dorm room has been sentenced to life behind bars.
The George Regional Court found 20-year-old Luyanda Mahlanza guilty of murdering Zimkhitha Ntshisela, also a 20-year-old student, rejecting his version of events that painted the attack as self-defence.
Mahlanza attacked Ntshisela on 6 June 2023 in her university residence. According to IOL , the pair were alone in her room when students heard a commotion and called a student assistant.
Using a spare key, the assistant entered the room and found Mahlanza in the act of repeatedly stabbing Ntshisela. The assistant managed to restrain him, stopping the attack.
During the trial, Mahlanza claimed Ntshisela had confronted him about cheating and came at him with a knife.
The court rejected the claim due to a lack of evidence, and prosecutor Advocate Karin Barnard accused the student of planning the murder and acting out of rage.
The court noted that Mahlanza's late guilty plea seemed more tactical than remorseful. An attempt to soften his punishment rather than accept responsibility.
Let us know by leaving a comment below or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.
Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
an hour ago
- The Citizen
Mandeni head-on collision claims two lives
Two people lost their lives and seven others were rushed to hospital following a head-on collision in Mandeni this afternoon. According to Samantha Meyrick of IPSS Medical Rescue, the crash involved two vehicles on the Mandeni Link Road. The first vehicle was carring two women; one died at the scene, while the other was critically injured and taken to hospital. 'The other vehicle was a seven-seater. The 27-year-old male driver sadly passed away, and his six passengers were transported to the hospital for further care,' said Meyrick. Stay in the loop with The North Coast Courier on Facebook, X, Instagram & YouTube for the latest news. Mobile users can join our WhatsApp Broadcast Service here or if you're on desktop, scan the QR code below. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading! Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here
The Citizen
2 hours ago
- The Citizen
Roodepoort family pleads for justice after brutal attack
A peaceful morning turned into a horrific scene when Quinten van Niekerk's life was almost taken in the early hours of May 21. Roodepoort Record reports that he was brutally attacked by a wanted suspect who is on the run for attempted murder and several other charges. This comes after his sister Geneké van Niekerk shared a post on her Facebook page about the attack, highlighting that the suspect in question is on the run. According to Geneké, Quinten's life was threatened twice in just over a month, both times by the same suspect. 'Since Quinten was busy with renovations, the suspect saw an opportunity to gain access to his house and attack him. We are still unable to determine how he managed to enter the estate when the CCTV footage only provides evidence of him leaving the premises. When Quinten saw him, he shouted and yelled for help, which woke up his partner, only for her to find the suspect on top of Quinten with a knife. 'His partner ran to him and tried to protect him by lying on top of him with her back faced to the suspect, but unfortunately, got caught in the chaos and was stabbed in the chest by the suspect after a brutal tussle between all three of them. 'The suspect tried to flee the scene but hid behind their home in an attempt to attack Quinten again. While feeling slightly dizzy from his stab wound, Quinten took the belt from the bathrobe and wrapped it around his wound to stop the bleeding and check if the suspect was gone,' Geneké explains. The suspect stole Quinten's vehicle and fled the scene, driving through the estate's security gates to escape. The stolen vehicle was later found abandoned near a shopping complex on Hendrik Potgieter Road. Geneké added that they opened a case at the Honeydew Police Station for the second time. 'On April 13, the suspect broke into Quinten's home and stabbed him in the foot, causing significant damage to his property while his children were in his home, further heightening the horror of the situation. In the wake of the second attack, it was revealed to us that the suspect's friends were allegedly sharing messages on WhatsApp, expressing hope that Quinten had died from his injuries while he was still recovering at Life Wilgeheuwel Hospital. 'Quinten's children are still traumatised, watching these two situations unfold and feeling helpless, pleading with the suspect to leave their father alone. 'We just want justice for my brother and for him and his family to be safe and not have to constantly look over their shoulders,' Geneké adds. Geneké confirmed that the police assured her that an investigation is still ongoing. Questions have been sent to the police for comment, and no response has been forthcoming. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
3 hours ago
- The Citizen
Brazen home invasion in Johannesburg South: 2 armed robbers nabbed
Two suspects have been arrested following an armed home invasion in South Crest in Johannesburg South. Alberton Record reports that the robbery happened yesterday morning. It is understood that two suspects forced their way into a property and tied the occupants up. They fled the scene after robbing the home. The homeowner alerted law enforcement via multiple panic alarms after the home invasion. 'Our reaction units responded promptly, arriving at the scene to find two suspects fleeing on foot with a firearm. 'Our tactical team quickly surrounded the area, blocking off streets and initiating a manhunt,' said CPS Security in a statement. After an intense search in the area, the suspects were apprehended by the CPS Security's tactical team while they were hiding on a property on Split Street. An extensive search was conducted on the property by SAPS K9, and stolen items, including jewellery, laptops and cellphones were recovered. The victims of the home invasion were left unharmed by the suspects, who are now in police custody. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
