A Bizana family has spoken of the devastating aftermath of a gender-based violence tragedy, revealing they relied on community donations to bury a beloved mother after she was brutally murdered by her estranged husband.
The family’s ordeal came to light during the sentencing of 60-year-old Julius Nikhwe, who was handed life imprisonment for hacking his 54-year-old wife to death with a machete during a divorce dispute in January 2026.
The court heard that Nikhwe attacked the victim at her Mamcakweni Village home in front of her two-year-old grandson, who has since been receiving therapy after witnessing the horrific killing.
In a moving victim impact statement, the couple’s son, Khaylethu Ndabuko, said he had to abandon his apprenticeship and return home after learning of his mother’s murder. He told the court the family could not afford her funeral and depended on donations from the community to lay her to rest.
Welcoming the life sentence, Ward 20 Councillor Sanele Nomvalo said he hoped the conviction would send a strong message that perpetrators of gender-based violence will be held accountable, while encouraging victims to report abuse before it turns fatal
No tags for this post.
