Man sentenced for beating girlfriend to death with broom

A 36-year-old man in South Africa has been sentenced to 20 years behind bars, for the murder of his girlfriend.

Adbul Samson Malambe was convicted for killing Zanele Jeanet Mnisi by striking her with a broom multiple times, when she had visited him at his parents’ home back in January 2017.

“This is after Malambe pleaded guilty and was convicted of murder. On 18 January 2017, Mnisi went to visit Malambe at his parental home. Later in the evening, they went to sleep in his room which is situated outside the main house,” Mpumalanga regional National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Monica Nyuswa said in a statement on Monday, 21 September 2020.

He has also been declared unfit to carry a firearm.

It is believed that it was a phone call Mnisi had received, which started an argument between the couple. Malambe had apparently recognised the number, which had led to a previous spat.

“Once again, an argument broke out and Malambe took a broom stick and hit her several times. Upon realizing that Mnisi is no longer breathing, he fled the scene leaving Mnisi’s lifeless body in his bedroom. He was arrested the following day,” Nyuswa further said.

Senior State Advocate, Derrick Mashego, who led the case against Mnisi, spoke on the scourge of domestic violence and also told the court it should not be treated lightly.

“He said it had to be deplored and had to be severely punished. He added that hardly a day passes without a report in the media of a woman being beaten, raped or even killed in this country,” she added.

Nyuswa said money women continue living in fear for their lives, which is a negation of many of their fundamental rights such as equality, human dignity and bodily integrity.

“Therefore, people like Malambe must be removed from the society. A social work report was also handed in”

The presiding judge also told the court that the rate of femicide in the country was high, and that every three hours a woman was getting killed.

She also added that Malambe ‘s ruthless killing of Mnisi, had left the woman’s family completely grief-stricken and in distress.