Lethiwe Princess Mthimkhulu has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for the attempted murder of her boyfriend, Phakamani Phumlani Sibiya, after forcing him to drink acid. | Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers
Durban — A woman was recently sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for an acid attack on her boyfriend.
“The Verulam Regional Court sentenced Lethiwe Princess Mthimkhulu, 32, to 10 years imprisonment for the attempted murder of her boyfriend in April 2022,” said KwaZulu-Natal National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara.
“She was also convicted of stealing his cellphone.”
Mthimkhulu was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
Ramkisson-Kara said that on the day of the incident, Mthimkhulu visited her boyfriend, Phakamani Phumlani Sibiya, 34, at his home in the Magwaveni area of oThongathi.
She offered him acid, disguised as holy water, for colon cleansing.
Afterwards, Sibiya complained of stomach pains and asked to be taken to the clinic. Mthimkhulu took his phone, saying that she would arrange transport for them, but did not return his phone.
About 30 minutes later, Mthimkhulu told him the vehicle had arrived to take them to the clinic. On the way, they drove past the clinic and Mthimkhulu said she wanted to fetch her father from the oThongathi CBD first.
Once they fetched the man, whom Sibiya did not know, they told Sibiya the man wanted to get traditional medicine to help him. They continued driving, eventually stopping where the man got out of the vehicle and returned a few minutes later. They passed the clinic again and drove back to Sibiya’s house.
Inside the house, the man grabbed Sibiya and pushed him to the floor. Afterwards, the man and Mthimkhulu forced Sibiya to drink acid. During the struggle, some acid spilled on Sibiya’s face.
At some point, Sibiya managed to attack the man, who then fled. Mthimkhulu stayed and poured the acid onto the left side of Sibiya’s head before locking him in the house and leaving.
Sibiya’s friend eventually took him to the clinic.
Mthimkhulu was arrested two days later.
Ramkisson-Kara said that in court, Prosecutor Ntuthuko Sidwell Mngadi led Sibiya’s evidence and the driver of the vehicle who transported him, Mthimkhulu and the unknown man. Also submitted to the court was medical evidence documenting the extent of Sibiya’s injuries.
In aggravation of the sentence, the state handed in a Victim Impact Statement compiled by Sibiya and facilitated by Court Preparation Officer, Bongiwe Qwabe.
In his statement, Sibiya said the incident completely changed his life. He cannot hear as his left ear had to be removed following the incident. Additionally, he now relies on a colostomy bag and he would need about R800 000 for the plastic surgery required to fix his injuries.
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