The Pietermaritzburg High Court has sentenced 34-year-old Siyabonga Wiseman Ndlovu to 22 years' imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to the murder of his two-year-old daughter and assaulting his ex-girlfriend.

The case stemmed from a horrific incident that occurred on April 3, 2024, in Umthwalume, when Ndlovu assaulted his then 40-year-old ex-girlfriend with a stick, inflicting grievous bodily harm.

According to police reports, the assault was severe enough to warrant immediate medical attention and led to the registration of a case at the Hibberdene Police Station.

Just weeks later, on April 20, the situation escalated alarmingly when Ndlovu approached his ex-girlfriend while she was with her current boyfriend. He demanded to see their daughter, with threats of taking her away.

Ndlovu's actions escalated further as he travelled to Esiqungeni, where the child was being cared for by her aunt. In a tragic turn of events, he forcefully removed the child from her aunt's custody, leading to a shocking act of violence against his own daughter.

In a grievous act, Ndlovu strangled the two-year-old girl, ultimately leading to her untimely death. Following the heinous act, he reportedly contacted his ex-girlfriend to inform her of where she could find their daughter's body. The police acted swiftly in response to this horrific crime, registering a murder docket and apprehending Ndlovu shortly after.

A thorough investigation was subsequently conducted by detectives from Hibberdene Police Station, unveiling a case with insurmountable evidence against Ndlovu. Faced with the strong findings of the investigation, he decided to plead guilty to all charges against him.

The court ultimately sentenced him to two years for the assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm alongside a 20-year term for the murder of his daughter.

sinenhlanhla.masilela@iol.co.za

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