A 26-year-old Harrismith man, Sunday Skhosana, was sentenced to 15 years of direct imprisonment on June 9, 2026, for the attempted murder of his 20-year-old girlfriend, Sibongile Radebe.
The sentencing follows a conviction by the Harrismith Regional Court on June 8, 2026. The case was successfully prosecuted by the National Prosecuting Authority in collaboration with the Harrismith Detective Service, led by Sergeant Lorraine Zimu.
The incident occurred on October 15, 2025. According to the facts of the case, Radebe was in Skhosana’s room and indicated she wanted to leave. Skhosana refused and insisted she stay overnight, sparking an argument during which he physically assaulted her.
Radebe managed to flee the room, but Skhosana pursued her, caught up, and stabbed her multiple times, leaving her unconscious. A passerby attempted to intervene and rescue the victim but was attacked by Skhosana and forced to flee. Community members subsequently arrived on the scene, restrained the accused, and assisted the victim.
Radebe was rushed to a local hospital before being transferred to a medical facility in QwaQwa for further treatment, where she remained hospitalized for nearly three weeks. As a result of the severe injuries sustained in the attack, she is now paralyzed and wheelchair-bound, and continues to receive psychological and therapeutic support.