The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has welcomed the life sentence handed to Nkosiyethu Sizeke, a 36-year-old man from the Eastern Cape, for the murder of his 22-year-old girlfriend, Alindiwe Nodlabi. Sizeke was sentenced in the Eastern Cape Division of the High Court in Mthatha on Monday, 28 September 2026. The sentence is seen as a significant blow against the scourge of femicide, which continues to escalate across South Africa.
According to the NPA, Sizeke and Nodlabi were in a domestic relationship and lived together in Marhewini Location, in the Marhubeni area of Ngqeleni. Before his arrest on an unrelated matter, Sizeke had given Nodlabi R25 000 to keep on his behalf. Following his release from custody, he demanded the return of the money, but Nodlabi no longer had it. An argument ensued, during which Sizeke assaulted Nodlabi at their residence.
The NPA said that to escape the assault, Nodlabi informed Sizeke that the money was with her mother. Sizeke, accompanied by two associates, went to Nodlabi's family home, where they confronted her mother and sister to recover the money. When the money could not be produced, Nodlabi refused to return with Sizeke. He then forcibly dragged her to his vehicle and drove her back to their shared home.
Upon arrival, Sizeke shot Nodlabi in the head in the presence of his two associates. She died at the scene, and Sizeke instructed his associates to remove her body from the property. Community members later discovered the body, and subsequent investigations led to Sizeke's arrest. He was found in possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
The court heard evidence from two associates, who testified as Section 204 witnesses. They described Sizeke as a feared, ruthless figure in the community and revealed that the money at the centre of the dispute was the proceeds of drug trafficking. The court also highlighted the aggravating circumstances surrounding the offence, including the fact that Sizeke arranged for Nodlabi's body to be removed and dumped.
In handing down the sentence, Judge Mbulelo Jolwana agreed with the State's submission that femicide continues to escalate across South Africa. He noted that women and children are being abused and killed for the flimsiest of reasons, and that their bodies are often discarded. The judge described the act of dumping Nodlabi's body as though she were a piece of rubbish as a serious aggravating factor.
The court sentenced Sizeke to life imprisonment for murder, 30 years' imprisonment for unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, and five years' imprisonment for defeating the ends of justice. NPA spokesperson Luxolo Tiyali hailed the sentence as a decisive blow against femicide, highlighting the need for justice in cases of violence against women.
Key points
- The sentence is seen as a significant blow against the scourge of femicide in South Africa.
- The court highlighted the aggravating circumstances surrounding the offence, including the ruthless manner in which Nodlabi's body was discarded.
- Sizeke was also sentenced to 30 years' imprisonment for unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, and five years' imprisonment for defeating the ends of justice.
