File
The Elliotdale Regional Court in the Eastern Cape heard final pre-sentencing arguments on Friday in the case of a Zimbabwean national accused of axing six family members to death.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson, Luxolo Tyali, said both the state and the defence concluded their arguments in aggravation and mitigation of sentence in the trial of 32-year-old, Nowa Makula.
The Zimbabwean national, pleaded guilty to all six counts of murder, arising from the incident on 25 November 2020 at Sidabekweni Village near Elliotdale.
Tyali said the court heard that Makula had been in a romantic relationship with the 42-year-old mother of four, Nomzamo Mhlanti. The pair then had another three children between them even though they never married.
“On the night of the incident, the couple had an argument about Mhlanti's alleged infidelity before they went to bed. Makula told the court that he could not sleep and just after midnight he decided to kill his girlfriend and the children who were sleeping in the same room.”
The deceased children were identified as Azakhiwe (10), Yibanathi (7), Wineka, Thoko (twins both 5) and Luohumlo Mhlanti (6 months), who were killed in their sleep.
Tyali said after committing the crimes, Makula claimed to have attempted to take his own life by hanging himself but the rope broke three times before he decided to flee the scene.
He was arrested three days later in Ginsberg, near Qonce (formerly King Williams Town), about 300 kilometres from where the crime was committed.
The matter was postponed to 17 May 2021 for sentencing.
