South African man sentenced to life imprisonment for burning his girlfriend to d3ath
Published on March 18, 2026 at 11:45 AM by Edgar Naitha
The High Court of South Africa sitting in Mbombela, Mpumalanga, has sentenced a 35-year-old man to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of his girlfriend in Carolina.
Innocent Sthembiso Maseko was found guilty of killing Mbali Lucy Ngubeni after a violent argument at their home in Silobela.
The court heard that the couple began arguing in their bedroom on 20 August 2024, and the dispute escalated into a physical fight.
During the altercation, Maseko poured petrol over Ngubeni and set her alight.
Despite suffering severe burns, Ngubeni managed to escape and called for help from a friend in another room, who extinguished the flames.
She was taken to hospital but died a week later due to her injuries.
Maseko denied being present during the incident, but the court relied on witness testimony and Ngubeni’s statement before her death to convict him.
The judge ruled that there were no compelling reasons for a lighter sentence, imposed life imprisonment, and declared Maseko unfit to possess a firearm.
