In a heart-wrenching case of brutal violence, a man from Zwelitsha has been sentenced to life imprisonment after pleading guilty to the murders of his girlfriend, Loveness Kumwenda, and her elderly mother, Fihliwe Sgam. The tragic events unfolded in March 2023, when the victims were reported missing by Fihliwe’s son.
On March 4, 2023, Fihliwe’s son reported that he had last seen his mother and sister around 7:40 pm on March 3, 2023. However, when he returned home the next morning, both were gone. Concerned, he immediately alerted authorities, and a search for the missing women began.
According to police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Siphokazi Mawisa, the search led to the discovery of Loveness’s body in a house under construction, where she had been brutally murdered. Community members, who had suspected Loveness’s abusive boyfriend, confronted him, but he fled, deepening their suspicions.
As the search continued, Fihliwe’s body was discovered hours later, hidden beneath her double bed, with a rope tightly wrapped around her naked body. The brutality of the crimes shocked the local community.
The suspect, later identified as the boyfriend, was apprehended the following day, March 5, as he attempted to leave the area by getting a lift to Gqeberha. After a thorough investigation, he was denied bail and remained in custody for two years.
On March 4, 2025, the accused man pleaded guilty to all charges, including two counts of murder. He was sentenced to life imprisonment for the killings of Loveness and Fihliwe. In addition to the life sentence, the court handed down several other sentences for his other crimes: eight years for kidnapping, 15 years for rape, 10 years for robbery, and two years for housebreaking.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of domestic violence, and the courts have sent a strong message with this harsh sentencing, showing that such brutal crimes will not go unpunished.
