The Pretoria North Magistrate’s Court has sentenced a couple from Soshanguve, north of Tshwane, for killing their one-year-old child.
Gauteng regional spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Lumka Mahanjana, said 25-year-old Mozambican national Joseph Molwana and 20-year-old Zanele Njobe were sentenced for the horrific murder of their daughter.
“Molwana was sentenced to life imprisonment for the premeditated murder of his one-year-old daughter, Sphesihle Nonlanhla Njobe.
Zanele Njobe, who was a minor at the time of the offence, was sentenced to 15 years’ direct imprisonment for the same offence, in terms of the Child Justice Act,” said Mahanjana.
Both parents were further sentenced to five years’ direct imprisonment for child abuse.
In addition, Molwana received a two-year direct imprisonment sentence for being in South Africa illegally.
“The court ordered that all sentences for Molwana run concurrently with the life sentence.”
“The court also declared both accused unfit to work with children and unfit to possess firearms,” said Mahanjana.
The court heard that on 15 May 2022, the couple was at Zanele’s place of residence. When the couple woke up, they realised that their one-year-old daughter was not responsive.
“They went to call their neighbours. When the neighbours arrived, they realized that the child was dead.
“They then called Zanele Njobe’s family, community members, and the police. On arrival, the police arrested the couple on the scene,” said Mahanjana.
In court, both accused pleaded not guilty, claiming they were unaware of what had happened to the child.
“They said the child had been crying the previous night, but they did not know what was wrong and eventually fell asleep,” said Mahanjana.
