The incident occurred on December 18, 2024, in Mattaffin, near Nelspruit, in Mpumalanga province. Arnaldo Constantino Maswanganye, 32, was found guilty of attempting to murder his girlfriend, who was also his traditional healer's assistant. The victim had been working as a traditional healer and was attacked by Maswanganye while bathing.
According to court documents, Maswanganye had been in a romantic relationship with the victim and they were living together as a couple. On the day of the incident, the victim had returned from fetching water from a nearby river, where she was collecting water for her traditional healing practices. After completing her rituals and preparing food, she went to bathe, when Maswanganye allegedly attacked her.
During the attack, Maswanganye allegedly stabbed the victim multiple times with a knife in the chest, hands, stomach, and thighs. He also hit her on the head with a beer bottle and poured boiling water on her face and body. The victim suffered severe injuries, was left for dead, and lost sensation in some parts of her body. She was rushed to Rob Ferreira Hospital, where she received treatment for several days.
Maswanganye was arrested and charged with attempted murder. During the trial, he denied attacking the victim, claiming that he had no memory of the incident due to a traditional medicine that allegedly caused him to lose his memory. However, the prosecution presented evidence, including the victim's testimony and a medical report, which detailed the extent of her injuries.
The prosecution, led by John Mahlwele, argued that Maswanganye's defense was implausible and unreliable. The court found Maswanganye guilty of attempted murder and sentenced him to 20 years in prison. During the sentencing, Mahlwele called the victim to testify about the impact of the crime on her life, highlighting the ongoing trauma and medical treatment she was receiving.
The prosecution emphasized that violence based on gender and domestic abuse remained a significant challenge in South Africa. Mahlwele argued that the severity of the attack, the extent of the injuries, and the long-term physical and emotional effects on the victim justified a substantial prison sentence. The court took these factors into account when imposing the 20-year sentence.
The victim is still recovering from the physical and emotional trauma inflicted by Maswanganye. The sentence brings some closure to the victim and her family, while also sending a strong message about the consequences of violent crimes in South Africa.
Key points
- The accused was sentenced to 20 years in prison for attempting to murder his 56-year-old girlfriend.
- The incident highlighted the ongoing challenge of violence based on gender and domestic abuse in South Africa.
- The victim suffered severe injuries, including loss of sensation in some parts of her body, and is still undergoing medical treatment.
