Sandiso Faku, a 36-year-old man from South Africa, has been handed a 25-year prison sentence for the murder of his girlfriend, Ntombizodwa Mei, whom he strangled in a fit of jealousy.
On Wednesday, October 15, 2025, Judge Andre le Grange delivered the verdict at the George Circuit High Court in Knysna.
Faku faced charges of murder and obstructing justice. He admitted guilt under Section 112(2) of the Criminal Procedure Act, Act 51 of 1977.
He acknowledged that he and Mei were in a domestic partnership, living together at 437 Nekkies, Knysna, though they were not legally married. Their relationship fell under the definition provided by Section 1(b) of the Domestic Violence Act, 116 of 1998.
On the evening of April 25, 2025, Mei was dropped off at their home by her work transport around 9 PM. The couple then visited friends, Noxozola and her brother, where they consumed alcohol.
Afterwards, they returned home and continued drinking. Faku claimed that an unfamiliar man came looking for Mei, which sparked a confrontation fueled by jealousy.
He accused Mei of infidelity involving this unknown individual. Following this, Noxozola, her brother, and the stranger left, leaving Faku and Mei alone.
Though they went to bed, their argument persisted. Faku stated that his anger escalated when Mei brought up financial matters, which he believed was a tactic to divert attention from her alleged cheating.
In the heat of the dispute, he slapped her while they lay side by side. Unsatisfied with this, he restrained her by pinning her arms with his knees and proceeded to strangle her with his right hand.
He observed Mei losing consciousness, coughing up blood onto his shirt, and eventually becoming unresponsive. Panicked, he fetched water in an attempt to revive her, but she had already passed away.
As dawn broke on April 26, 2025, fear of being caught overwhelmed him. Unsure of how to handle the situation, he wrapped Mei’s body in blankets and moved it to the outside toilet.
He initially placed her upright on the toilet seat, but when her body toppled, he forcibly pushed her headfirst into the pit latrine.
Faku confessed to Senior Public Prosecutor Phumzile Nogonyoti that this act was intended to conceal the crime and distance himself from the murder.
When questioned by Mei’s family, he falsely claimed she was at work. It was only after a colleague reported her missing that the police discovered her body in the toilet.
He expressed remorse for his actions and acknowledged the gravity and illegality of his conduct, appealing for leniency during sentencing.
The court sentenced him to 25 years imprisonment for murder and an additional 7 years for obstructing justice.
Prosecutor Nogonyoti revealed that Faku was on parole for a prior conviction involving robbery with aggravating circumstances, for which he had been sentenced to 15 years.
The court ruled that Faku must complete the remaining 7 years of his previous sentence before commencing the 25-year term.
Western Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Nicollette Bell, praised the court’s decision but condemned the ongoing epidemic of gender-based violence and femicide that continues to plague women.
She reaffirmed the National Prosecuting Authority’s commitment in the Western Cape to relentlessly combat this crisis, emphasizing the critical importance of eradicating such violence. The NPA remains determined to prosecute these cases vigorously to serve as a strong deterrent.
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