FREE STATE – A 42-year-old man, Mzwakhe Paulos Mhlambi, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the femicide and murder of his 36-year-old girlfriend, Dibakiso Maria Motaung, following a conviction at the Bloemfontein High Court sitting at the Harrismith Magistrate’s Court.
The fatal incident occurred on Sunday, 25 January 2026, at approximately 08:45, when Tseki police responded to a murder complaint in Phamong Village, QwaQwa. Upon arrival, officers discovered the victim’s body inside a residence. She was found half-naked with visible bruising on her face and thighs, and Emergency Medical Services personnel officially certified her death at the scene.
Preliminary investigations conducted by Detective Sergeant Montane Mokitimi of the Tseki Detective Service revealed that Mhlambi had violently assaulted Motaung by repeatedly striking her against a wall inside the home after alleging infidelity. A subsequent post-mortem examination confirmed that the cause of death was internal bleeding sustained during the assault. Authorities also seized a panga recovered adjacent to the victim at the crime scene.
On Thursday, 30 July 2026, the court formally found Mhlambi guilty of murder, specifically classified as femicide, and imposed a life imprisonment sentence. The State was represented during the proceedings by Advocate Mkhabela.
Free State Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thabang Lesia, publicly welcomed the sentencing. Lieutenant General Lesia stated that the judgment sends a strong message that crimes against women will not be tolerated, emphasizing that perpetrators of gender-based violence and femicide will face the full might of the law.
