A Northern Cape court has handed down a life sentence to 34-year-old Mohammed Raman after he strangled his partner to death in front of her six-year-old daughter.
The murder took place in Hopetown in January 2024, shortly after the victim told Raman she wanted to end their relationship. Neighbors reported hearing an argument before discovering the tragedy. After the killing, Raman locked the child inside the house with her mother’s body and fled.
The young girl spent the night next to her mother until Raman was later apprehended by a vigilant community member who took him to the police station after growing suspicious of his behavior.
During sentencing, the court considered the devastating impact on the child and family, noting the prevalence of femicide in South Africa. Raman received life imprisonment for murder and an additional three months for immigration violations, with the terms running concurrently. He was also declared unfit to own a firearm.
Prosecutors stressed the urgent need to send a strong message against gender-based violence. The National Prosecuting Authority commended both the community member who secured Raman’s arrest and the ongoing fight against femicide in the country.