Durban — On the day that Women’s Month comes to an end a man who allegedly stabbed and killed a woman who had intervened in an altercation between himself and his girlfriend is due back in the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court.
Nqobile Nzimande, 26, is alleged to have killed Nozipho Ndokweni in Nazareth on February 5. Nzimande who remains in custody, having been previously denied bail, made his first court appearance three days after the alleged murder.
It's alleged that on the day of the murder Nzimande late in the evening had an altercation with his girlfriend and the deceased in the matter intervened.
It’s alleged that Ndokweni was trying to intervene in the couple’s fight and hit Nzimande with a bottle on the head, Nzimande then allegedly drew a knife and chased Ndokweni as she ran down the road fearing for her life.
It is alleged that Nzimande managed to reach the victim and stabbed her to death, he then fled the scene and went to his uncle’s house in Nazareth.
Nzimande was refused bail in March and during that time in his bid for release, he told the court that his personal circumstances were that he had three children aged 6, 4 and 1.
Nzimande at the time had also indicated that his intended plea to the charge against him was that of not guilty.
However on Thursday in court, the State said: “There’s an indication from the investigating officer that the accused wants to plead guilty.”
The State informed the court that the post-mortem had been filed while DNA and the scene photo album were still outstanding when it came to investigations. The matter was adjourned to Wednesday.
As Women’s Month drew to an end, the Department of Social Development in KwaZulu-Natal expressed concern over gender-based violence, sending its condolences to the Ndokweni family.
Speaking on incidents of GBV in KZN, the department’s spokesperson Mhlaba Memela said it was shameful that in the province there were people who disrespect human lives.
“We have been experiencing a lot of similar cases of people accused of being killers or abusers of the same people they are supposed to be protecting. Gender-based violence is a form of discrimination and a violation of the fundamental human rights of women.”
He said this phenomenon was deeply rooted in gender inequality and continued to be one of the most notable human rights violations in “our” province and country.
“It’s so sad that we even talk about fathers who rape their biological children and impregnate them; these incidences show a lack of morals and evil.”
Daily News