Woman found half-naked with bruises: Boyfriend jailed for life for her murder

Bloemfontein – The Bloemfontein High Court, sitting at the Harrismith Magistrate’s Court, has sentenced a 42-year-old Free State man to life imprisonment for the murder of his girlfriend in a case classified as femicide.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) said Mzwakhe Paulos Mhlambi, of Phamong Village in QwaQwa, was convicted and sentenced on Thursday, 30 July 2026, for the murder of 36-year-old Dibakiso Maria Motaung.

According to police, the murder occurred on Sunday, 25 January 2026, when Tseki police responded to a murder complaint at about 8:45am.

“Upon arrival, they found the body of a woman, later identified by her family as Dibakiso Maria Motaung (36), lying motionless on the floor inside the house. She was half-naked and had visible bruises on her face and thighs. Emergency Medical Services personnel certified her dead at the scene,” SAPS said in a statement.

Police investigations revealed that Mhlambi fatally assaulted Motaung after accusing her of being unfaithful.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the accused had assaulted the deceased by repeatedly banging her against the wall inside the house after accusing her of infidelity,” the statement said.

A post-mortem examination found that Motaung died from internal bleeding caused by the assault.

“The post-mortem examination confirmed that she died as a result of internal bleeding sustained during the assault. Police also seized a panga that was found next to the deceased at the crime scene,” SAPS added.

A murder case was opened and investigated by Detective Sergeant Montane Mokitimi of the Tseki Detective Service, leading to Mhlambi’s successful prosecution. The State was represented by Advocate Mkhabela.

The Free State Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thabang Lesia, welcomed the life sentence, describing it as a strong message against gender-based violence and femicide.

“The sentence sends a strong message that crimes against women will not be tolerated and that perpetrators of gender-based violence and femicide will face the full might of the law,” Lesia said.

The conviction is the latest in ongoing efforts by law enforcement and the courts to hold perpetrators of gender-based violence accountable and secure justice for victims of femicide.