PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - The Plettenberg Bay Regional Court has sentenced a 43-year-old man to 17 years' direct imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to attempting to murder his girlfriend, who he suspected was being unfaithful to him after he found her naked in another man’s home.
Lukhanyiso Educator Ndoya pleaded guilty in terms of Section 112 of the Criminal Procedure Act, and confessed that he stabbed Lungiswa Dumiso twice in the neck on 16 April 2023 after he discovered that she was in the man's home in Bossiesgif, Plettenberg Bay.
Domestic relationship
He told the court that he and Dumiso, 43, had been in a domestic relationship for about six years, and had lived together for part of that period.
On the day of the crime, he had gone to visit her at her home in Bossiesgif, but she was not there.
He went to look for her at another house, where he had previously seen her.
After he knocked, she appeared. He asked her what she was doing at that house, and told her to put her clothes on, as she was naked.
Took out a knife
He asked her to go for a walk with him, and he was very angry with her, as it was clear to him that she had been unfaithful to him.
He slapped her and pulled her. She fell, and he again slapped her and pulled her. She bit his finger, and he took out a knife and stabbed her twice in the neck.
A woman arrived as Dumiso was screaming. He attempted to flee but members of the community apprehended him and assaulted him.
High prevalence of GBV
Police arrested him, and Dumiso was taken to hospital.
Prosecutor Johannes Marx asked the court to impose a substantial term of direct imprisonment on Ndoya, saying there was a high prevalence of violent crime and gender-based violence in society, and women were often vulnerable to crime in relationships.
Deterrent to others
There was a need for courts to pass heavy sentences for this type of offence to serve as a deterrent to others and in view of the public's call for the scourge of domestic violence to end.
The complainant was severely injured and required emergency medical intervention to save her life - she had to be airlifted to George Hospital and required two operations.
Fortunate to be alive
She was fortunate to be alive since stab wounds to the neck were usually fatal.
The fact that the victim had forgiven the accused for what he did and had rekindled their relationship, was not a unique phenomenon.
Victims often tolerated and even accommodated violent behaviour from their partners.
Investigators congratulated
Western Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, advocate Nicolette Bell, congratulated the prosecution and investigating team for their efforts to ensure justice for the victim, even though she had rekindled her relationship with the accused.
The fact that the sentencing happened at the end of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children campaign was a sign that the State’s efforts to contain gender-based violence and femicide continued throughout the year.
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