A man who murdered his partner and the mother of his child has been handed a life sentence by the Mpumalanga High Court.
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The High Court in Middelburg has handed a life sentence to 46-year-old Poyisa Gilbert Voyiya from Klarinet Extension for the murder of his wife, Nelly Coldetia Voyiya, a crime that has once again drawn attention to South Africa’s ongoing fight against gender-based violence.
The court heard that the couple, who shared a 12-year-old child, were in the process of divorcing when the incident occurred on April 19, 2022, in eMalahleni. According to National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Monica Nyuswa, Voyiya pursued his wife’s car until she crashed into a streetlight. When she tried to escape on foot, he caught up with her and stabbed her several times before fleeing to Standerton.
He later admitted to the killing in front of his cousin, who then took him to the police. Nelly was rushed to hospital but was pronounced dead due to multiple stab wounds.
Although Voyiya pleaded guilty and claimed he was mentally unstable, a psychiatric assessment found him fit to stand trial. Senior State Advocate Bakedi Maoke told the court that his actions were deliberate and brutal, and called for the maximum penalty. “The country continues to face the devastating reality of gender-based violence and femicide,” Maoke said, noting that the couple’s young child now faces life without a mother.
Mpumalanga’s Director of Public Prosecutions, Sonja Ntuli, welcomed the sentence, saying it reaffirmed the justice system’s commitment to protecting women and holding perpetrators accountable. “This outcome reflects our determination to ensure justice for victims of gender-based violence. It is tragic that her life was taken by her husband, the father of her child,” Ntuli said.
The NPA has urged communities to remain vigilant and proactive in addressing gender-based violence by reporting abuse and supporting affected families.
