A congested court roll at the Pinetown Regional Court has delayed judgment in the murder trial against Lwanda Mxolisi Zungu, who is accused of fatally shooting his wife, Tania Zungu, in January 2024.
Zungu, a former South African National Defence Force (SANDF) reservist, is accused of shooting his wife eight times with a semi-automatic firearm at their home in Pinetown. At the time of the incident, the couple’s children and Tania’s mother were inside the house and allegedly heard her final cries for help.
On Tuesday, Magistrate Muntukayise Khumalo told the court that he had not yet completed drafting his judgment because he had been occupied with preparing judgments in other matters on the court roll.
“As such, I will need a few more days to deliver this judgment,” he said.
After confirming the availability of all legal representatives, Khumalo postponed the matter to early next week for judgment. Outside the court, Tania’s mother, Gwen Msane, said she remained hopeful that her son-in-law would be found guilty.
“From following the trial, it is clear that he is guilty,” she said.
Msane acknowledged, however, that even after judgment, the case would not be concluded, as sentencing proceedings would still have to take place if Zungu was convicted.
Speaking about her grandchildren, Msane said they were coping well despite the tragedy.
“The older one is now 18-years-old, and the younger one, who is 13-years-old, is doing well. He is part of a school choir and is currently in Hong Kong,” she said.
Msane also reflected on her own journey since her daughter’s death, saying her faith had carried her through the ordeal.
“The Bible is my therapist,” she said.
During the trial, the court heard that the ammunition allegedly used in the shooting of Tania consisted of hollow-point bullets.
Forensic analyst Captain Solomon Kgotlaetsile Modisane testified that these bullets are designed to expand on impact.
He explained that the hollow tip causes the bullet to mushroom upon striking a target, slowing its movement while creating a wider wound cavity and maximising the transfer of kinetic energy into soft tissue.
While on the stand, Zungu testified that the hollow-point bullets were expensive, and he said he had received them from a company that wanted him to test the ammunition.
