A 23-year-old man has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his three-week-old son in Driekoppies, Mpumalanga, South Africa.
Sibusiso Patrick Shongwe was convicted in the High Court in Mpumalanga for killing his infant in March 2023. Evidence before the court revealed that when the child’s mother, Noluthando Mlambo, became pregnant, Shongwe denied being the father and pressured her to terminate the pregnancy.
On the night of 1 March 2023, Shongwe arranged to meet Mlambo and the baby, claiming he wanted to bring supplies for the child. They met on the street, accompanied by the child’s grandmother. Shongwe asked the grandmother to leave them alone.
Moments later, three unidentified men confronted Mlambo, creating an opportunity for Shongwe to grab the baby and run away.
Two days later, the infant’s body was found in nearby bushes. A post-mortem examination determined that the baby died from sharp-force injuries to the neck.
During the trial, Shongwe denied abducting his son. However, State Advocate Senzo Zindela presented strong evidence, including witness testimony and a confession linking him to the crime. The court also heard that Shongwe had shown no remorse.
In delivering the sentence, the judge highlighted the alarming levels of violent crime in South Africa and the growing disregard for human life. Finding no substantial and compelling circumstances to justify a lesser sentence, the court imposed the prescribed minimum of life imprisonment.
Shongwe was also declared unfit to possess a firearm, and his application for leave to appeal was denied.