The High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Local Division, in Johannesburg has sentenced a 29-year-old man for the murder of his girlfriend. Sabelo Leroy Puqa was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment for the murder of his girlfriend Palesa Mbali Shikonde, plus two years for assault.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Gauteng Local Division spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said that Shikonde was home with her brother Kamogelo in Soweto when the incident happened on 5 May 2023. "She was seated with a male inside a parked car. The accused arrived at Shikonde's home driving a blue car. He asked Kamogelo about his sister's whereabouts. Kamogelo then told the accused that Shikonde went to buy food as she couldn't cook due to loadshedding. The accused left and saw Shikonde inside a car where he went and knocked on the window," Mjonondwane said. She said Shikonde got out of the car and spoke to the accused while the other man drove off. Shikonde then got into the accused's car and he drove off," added Mjonondwane. The accused later assaulted Shikonde with an open hand and strangled her because he suspected her of cheating on him. He then took her to the hospital where she was declared dead. The accused was then arrested at the hospital.

Mjonondwane further said that in court, the accused pleaded guilty to the charges. State Advocate Lourain Kgaditsi argued that women are killed daily in South Africa and requested the court not to deviate from the minimum prescribed sentence. "Kgaditsi added that the court should impose a term of imprisonment that will reinstall the public's confidence in the courts. She further stated that Shikonde was the mother of a four-year-old daughter, whose won't be coming home again.