eMalahleni – A 60-year-old man, Fanie Petros Mtshali, has been sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for the murder of his 24-year-old daughter following a domestic altercation.
The eMalahleni regional court delivered the sentence on 21 January, concluding a case that began on the night of 10 September 2022 in Phola, near eMalahleni (Witbank).
According to police spokesperson, Lt-Col Jabu Ndubane, the incident unfolded when the victim returned home late. “The court heard that on September 10 2022, at about 11pm the victim arrived home and was confronted by her father. The father reprimanded his daughter. A heated argument ensued during which the father slapped the victim, causing her to fall onto the TV. She succumbed to her injuries at the scene,” Lt-Col Ndubane explained.
Emergency services and police were called to the scene, where the victim was declared dead. Mtshali was arrested the following day and charged with murder. He remained in custody throughout the legal proceedings, denied bail.
Acting Mpumalanga police commissioner, Maj-Gen Zeph Mkhwanazi, welcomed the sentence, using the opportunity to highlight the importance of peaceful conflict resolution within families. “Families should seek help from professionals when dealing with conflicts rather than resorting to violence. This tragic case highlights the devastating consequences of domestic violence,” Maj-Gen Mkhwanazi stated.
This case sadly mirrors a separate incident in the province, where a 22-year-old father was arrested for the alleged murder of his 17-month-old baby girl. Lt-Col Ndubane detailed this separate incident, stating that in the early hours of 30 December 2024, the father took the baby to hospital, claiming she had fallen from a bed.
“Upon examining the toddler, the medical staff established that she had already passed on. The hospital staff contacted the police to report that the girl had suffered injuries, which were of a suspicious nature,” Lt-Col Ndubane said. The suspicious nature of the injuries prompted further investigation. “The toddler had several bruises all over her body, and there were signs of strangulation,” he added. The father was subsequently arrested on the same day.
Both cases underscore the tragic consequences of domestic violence and the urgent need for intervention and support for families struggling with conflict.
