Bongiwe Magwaza convicted of murder after contradictory claims about his partner's death
Bongiwe Magwaza, a 23-year-old woman, was sentenced to 20 years in prison by the High Court of South Africa in Johannesburg for the murder of her boyfriend, Kgopotso Ntsana, a 34-year-old South African Police Service employee.
The tragic incident occurred on December 2, 2022, at their shared residence in Windmill Park Estates, when Magwaza stabbed and shot Ntsana over a disagreement.
Magwaza initially attempted to portray the incident as a suicide, but police investigations led by Captain Sibeko, as well as expert witness testimony, contradicted her claim.
Despite her initial denial that she knew how to use a firearm, Magwaza eventually confessed to the crime, claiming self-defense.
However, the court rejected her version of events, stating that she had indeed shot Ntsana.
The conviction was based on circumstantial evidence and Magwaza's admission of guilt, which led to his subsequent sentencing.
Magwaza testified in mitigation during the trial, apologizing to the family and accepting responsibility for stabbing Ntsana.
She insisted that she did not commit the shooting and suggested that Ntsana may have killed himself, emphasizing that she would only accept responsibility for the murder if the cause of death was determined to be stab wounds.
Despite her claims and plea for a reduced sentence, the court sentenced her to 39 years in prison for a variety of charges, including 20 years for the murder of Kgopotso Ntsana, 7 years for unlawful possession of a firearm, 5 years for unlawful possession of ammunition, and 7 years for defeating the ends of justice, all of which will run concurrently.
