The Scottburgh Regional Court has sentenced a 30-year-old man to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of his girlfriend after accusing her of failing to do his laundry.
Phumlani Myende was convicted of killing Cynthia Goba on March 18, 2025, in the Malangeni area of Umzinto.
The court heard that before the attack, Myende went to a local tavern where he found Goba in the company of two men. He confronted her, accusing her of not doing his laundry. The two men managed to calm him down, and the group continued drinking together.
Later, after the two men had left the tavern, one of them returned at closing time and found Myende repeatedly assaulting Goba by punching her and trampling on her head.
The witness attempted to intervene, but Myende threatened him with a knife. He left to fetch the other man who had been with them earlier. When they returned, they found Myende still assaulting Goba, who was lying motionless on the ground.
The two men told Myende they intended to call the police. He instead lifted Goba, saying they were going home, and carried her away. The witnesses returned to their homes and only learnt of Goba’s death the following day, when Myende was arrested at his homestead.
According to National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, State advocate Akhile Gcume led the evidence of another witness, who testified that Myende later confessed to killing his girlfriend.
The witness accompanied Myende to where Goba was lying before alerting members of the community. Ramkisson-Kara said another witness testified that shortly before 23.00 on March 17, Myende asked him to help carry Goba home.
“Myende claimed that the deceased was intoxicated and unable to walk. Upon arriving at the scene, the witness discovered that the deceased was cold to the touch and had no pulse. He informed Myende that she had passed away and left the scene,” Ramkisson-Kara said.
In sentencing Myende, the court found that the murder was a serious act of gender-based violence and femicide, warranting the prescribed sentence of life imprisonment. The court also declared Myende unfit to possess a firearm.
Ramkisson-Kara welcomed the sentence, saying it sends a strong message that violence against women will not be tolerated and that perpetrators of gender-based violence and femicide will face the full might of the law.
“It also reflects the criminal justice system’s commitment to ensuring accountability for offenders and justice for victims and their families. Curbing the scourge of gender-based violence and femicide remains an organisational priority for the NPA.
“Together with our partners in the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster, we will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that perpetrators are prosecuted successfully and that victims and their families receive justice,” she said.
