'Broken ribs and bite marks': Couple jailed for brutal murder of their one-year-old daughter

THE Pretoria North Magistrate’s Court has sentenced a couple from Soshanguve, north of Tshwane, for killing their one-year-old child.

Gauteng regional spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Lumka Mahanjana, said 25-year-old Mozambican national Joseph Molwana and 20-year-old Zanele Njobe were sentenced for the horrific murder of their daughter.

“Molwana was sentenced to life imprisonment for the premeditated murder of his one-year-old daughter, Sphesihle Nonlanhla Njobe. Zanele Njobe, who was a minor at the time of the offence, was sentenced to 15 years’ direct imprisonment for the same offence, in terms of the Child Justice Act,” said Mahanjana.

Both parents were further sentenced to five years' direct imprisonment for child abuse.

In addition, Molwana received a two-year direct imprisonment sentence for being in South Africa illegally. 

“The court ordered that all sentences for Molwana run concurrently with the life sentence. The court also declared both accused unfit to work with children and unfit to possess firearms,” said Mahanjana.

The court heard that on 15 May 2022, the couple was at Zanele’s place of residence. When the couple woke up, they realised that their one-year-old daughter was not responsive. 

“They went to call their neighbours. When the neighbours arrived, they realised that the child was dead. They then called Zanele Njobe’s family, community members, and the police. On arrival, the police arrested the couple on the scene,” said Mahanjana.

In court, both accused pleaded not guilty, claiming they were unaware of what had happened to the child. 

“They said the child had been crying the previous night, but they did not know what was wrong and eventually fell asleep,” said Mahanjana.

However, State Prosecutor, Hanlie Du Preez, led compelling evidence from a pathologist, which revealed that the child had been severely abused, with four broken ribs, bruises, and bite marks on her body.

During sentencing proceedings, the defence argued for a deviation from the prescribed minimum sentences, citing Molwana’s status as a first-time offender who had been in custody for over two years, and Njobe’s status as a minor at the time the crime was committed, lacking parental guidance. 

On the other hand, prosecutor Du Preez asked the court to impose the prescribed sentence of life imprisonment, arguing that the couple had deliberately committed serious offences of abuse towards their child, who was only a year old.

Furthermore, Du Preez submitted that the community was outraged by this offence, and their hopes were on the courts to send a clear message by the sentence imposed.  

In delivering judgment, Magistrate Pieter Nel agreed with the prosecution, finding that the couple showed no remorse and that the child had suffered prolonged abuse. 

The court stressed the need to protect society from “such individuals” like Molwana and Zanele.

The National Prosecuting Authority has welcomed the sentences.

Mahanjana said the NPA hopes the sentences send a strong message that gender-based violence (GBV) and crimes against children remain a priority, and will be prosecuted without fear or favour.

Last year, IOL reported that a 48-year-old Limpopo woman, Stephina Sefekwane Chuene, appeared before the Polokwane Magistrate's Court after she was arrested for the brutal murder of her 18-year-old son.