Life Behind Bars for Man Who Beheaded Girlfriend Over Cellphone Message
The Eastern Cape Division of the High Court has sentenced 30-year-old Sandiso Matyida to life imprisonment for the brutal murder and beheading of his girlfriend, Sinazo Khanzi.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomed the heavy sentence, which follows the horrific discovery of Khanzi’s decapitated body at Beseti Farm in the Gwatyu area near Cofimvaba on 27 January 2023.
Court proceedings revealed that Matyida and Khanzi were living together when the murder took place.
On the night of the incident, Matyida approached his cousin and asked for a place to sleep.
When questioned about Khanzi’s whereabouts, Matyida made a chilling gesture indicating that her throat had been slit, later confirming to his cousin that he had killed her.
The cousin rushed to the couple’s home, where he discovered Khanzi’s body covered with a blanket and her head completely severed.
He immediately alerted Matyida’s father and summoned the police.
Matyida was arrested later that evening while sleeping in the very house where the crime occurred.
He later pointed out the blood-stained axe used in the attack to the police.
During the trial, Matyida pleaded guilty to the charges and claimed to show remorse.
In his plea explanation, he admitted to killing Khanzi after scrolling through her cellphone and discovering messages between her and another man.
He claimed the discovery sparked a confrontation that escalated into an argument, causing him to act in a “fit of rage”.
State Advocate Luvuyo Komanisi argued heavily in aggravation of sentence, noting that gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide remain a national crisis in South Africa.
Komanisi emphasized that the gruesome nature of the murder had devastated the local community, and that the public rightfully expects the courts to hand down the maximum possible sentences to perpetrators.
The High Court agreed, finding no substantial or compelling circumstances to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence, and condemned Matyida to life behind bars.
Advocate Samkelo Mtwana, the Eastern Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, lauded the ruling as a victory for justice.
“This sentence sends a strong message that perpetrators of violence against women will be held fully accountable for their actions,” Mtwana said.
“The NPA remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring justice for victims of gender-based violence and femicide, while supporting all efforts aimed at eradicating these crimes from our communities.”
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