By Doreen Mokgolo
- Joseph Molwana was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his daughter and five more years for abuse.
- Zanele Njobe, who was a minor when the child died, got 15 years in jail for murder and five years for abuse.
Joseph Molwana, a 25-year-old from Mozambique, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the premeditated murder of his daughter, Sphesihle Nonlanhla Njobe.
His partner, 20-year-old Zanele Njobe, was jailed for 15 years for murder under the Child Justice Act because she was a minor at the time. Both also received five years in prison for child abuse.
Molwana was given an extra two-year sentence for being in the country illegally. The court said all his sentences would run concurrently with the life sentence.
The court also ruled that neither of them may ever work with children or own a gun.
The baby girl was found dead on 15 May 2022 at Njobe’s home. The couple said they noticed the child was unresponsive and called neighbours for help. When the neighbours arrived, they realised the baby was dead and called Njobe’s family and the police.
Police arrested the couple at the scene.
According to National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana, the pair claimed they did not know what had happened to their daughter. They said the baby had cried during the night but they fell asleep not knowing what was wrong.
However, prosecutor Hanlie du Preez presented strong medical evidence from a pathologist, which showed the child had been badly abused. She had four broken ribs, bite marks and bruises on her body.
The defence argued that Molwana was a first-time offender who had already spent two years in jail, and that Njobe lacked proper parental guidance.
But the state said the crime was too serious to justify a lighter sentence, and that the public wanted justice for such cruelty.
Magistrate Pieter Nel agreed, saying the couple had shown no remorse and the child had suffered long-term abuse. He said the court had to protect society from people like them.
The NPA said the sentence sent a strong message that gender-based violence and crimes against children would not be tolerated.
Pictured above: Police lights.
Image source: File
