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A South African man, Bantubenkosi Siqotyana, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the heinous murder of his girlfriend, Nombeko Thobigunya, in December 2023.
The Eastern Cape High Court in Mthatha delivered the verdict on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, following a trial that revealed the gruesome details of the crime.
Siqotyana was found guilty of killing Thobigunya, dismembering her body, and disposing of the remains in multiple pit toilets in an attempt to conceal his actions.
The case came to light when a human hand, later identified as Thobigunya’s, was discovered being eaten by a dog in the village of Thembeni in the Zandukwana area of Libode.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Luxolo Tali explained that the discovery led the community to suspect Siqotyana, who was last seen with the victim.
“The deceased’s friend identified the hand by the nail polish she had applied before her disappearance, which ultimately led community members to the boyfriend, Siqotyana,” Tali stated.
The accused was apprehended after being assaulted by the community and subsequently confessed to the crime, leading police to the locations where he had disposed of the body parts.
Despite initially pleading not guilty to murder, Sigotyana admitted to violating a corpse but claimed Thobigunya had died from food poisoning.
However, the prosecution, led by Advocate Siphokazi Maarman, disproved his claims by presenting eyewitness testimony and medical evidence that showed the victim had been stabbed.
The court’s decision to impose a life sentence serves as a stern warning that such acts of violence and human abuse will not go unpunished, and it underscores the diligent efforts of law enforcement and the judicial system in bringing justice to light.
