The Mpumalanga Division of the High Court has sentenced a woman who killed her partner for refusing to switch off the radio. Thembi Promise Simelane (41) from Daantjie in Mpumalanga was sentenced to 20 years direct imprisonment for stabbing her live-in boyfriend Thulani Wonder Vilakazi (53) to death when he refused to switch off the radio in January last year.

KILLED FOR NOISY RADIO

Mpumalanga National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Monica Nyuswa said that Simelane admitted to committing the crime. "In her plea explanation, Simelane admitted that on the evening of 14 January 2023, she and the deceased were hosting visitors at their home in Daartjie in the district of Nsikazi and they were all having alcoholic beverages and listening to music. After the visitors left, she remained with the deceased and their two minor children. She stated that she asked the deceased to switch off the radio and the deceased refused. During a verbal altercation, she stabbed the deceased twice with a knife and he fell on the floor," she said. Nyuswa said that their two minor children woke up and discovered that their father was on the floor bleeding.

GRUESOME DISCOVERY

 After the incident, neighbours and emergency services were called to the scene and the deceased was declared dead. "She was eventually arrested and convicted of the murder. Nyuswa said that in aggravation of sentence, Advocate Zwelethu Mata, addressed the court that daily, they hear of women and children being violated by men for reasons that are not worthy. "The accused's case highlights the reality of domestic violence perpetrated against men as well. Advocate Mata further told the court that the deeds of the accused has left behind two young children orphaned who must adjust to living with other family members and accept that they will never see their father in their lives," she said. Simelane then entered into a plea sentence agreement with the state. "When handing down the sentence, the court found that the plea and sentence agreement was just and fair and indeed there were compelling circumstances which justified a sentence other than the prescribed minimum sentence," Nyuswa added.