MPUMALANGA – The Mpumalanga Division of the High Court sitting in Middelburg on Friday, April 11, convicted and sentenced Poyisa Gilbert Voyiya (46) from Klarinet Extension in eMalahleni to life imprisonment for the premeditated murder of his wife, Nelly Coldetia Voyiya (36).
The couple, who were legally married and shared a child, were undergoing divorce proceedings at the time of the incident.
On April 19, 2022, the deceased was driving in eMalahleni when the accused began following her. He chased her vehicle, causing her to crash into a streetlight. She fled the scene on foot, but the accused pursued [her] and brutally stabbed her multiple times in the upper body. He then fled to Standerton, where he informed his cousin, who subsequently took him to the police.
The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital but succumbed to her injuries. A post-mortem confirmed the cause of death as multiple sharp force injuries. In court, the accused pleaded guilty and claimed he was mentally unstable at the time of the offence.
However, following a psychiatric evaluation, he was found fit to stand trial.
Senior State Advocate Bakedi Maoke submitted that the guilty plea did not diminish the severity of the offence. She emphasized the country’s ongoing struggle with gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) and highlighted the devastating impact on the couple’s 12-year-old child, who will now grow up without a mother.
Advocate Maoke urged the court to impose the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment, which the court duly granted. In sentencing, the court commented on the brutal and senseless nature of the attack and further declared the accused unfit to possess a firearm in terms of Section 103 of the Firearms Control Act [No.] 60 of 2000.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes the life sentence handed down to Poyisa [Voyiya], viewing it as a significant milestone in the ongoing fight against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF).
“This judgment sends a strong and unequivocal message: the justice system will not tolerate acts of violence against women, particularly when committed by those entrusted with their love and protection.”
Sonja Ntuli, Director of Public Prosecutions in Mpumalanga, said the sentence reaffirms their unwavering commitment to combating Gender-Based Violence and Femicide in our society. “The brutal murder of Nelly Coldetia Voyiya is a stark and painful reminder of the devastating toll GBVF takes on families, especially children. That her life was taken by her husband, the father of their child, is both tragic and unacceptable,” [she] said.
“The NPA will continue to act decisively against those who commit such heinous crimes. We are committed to ensuring that justice is not only done but seen to be done. This conviction demonstrates the courts’ willingness to impose the harshest sentences on those who violate the rights and dignity of women. Our thoughts remain with the deceased’s family, particularly the young child left behind — a child who will now grow up without a mother due to this senseless act of violence.”
She added that as the NPA, they remain resolute in using every legal mechanism at [their] disposal to uphold justice and protect the most vulnerable in our society.
“The NPA further calls on communities to unite in condemning GBVF, to report incidents of abuse, and to support efforts that seek to eliminate violence against women and children. Justice can only prevail when we all stand together against this scourge,” Ntuli said.
The sentencing came as a relief to a community still reeling from the collapse of the widely known Cwecwe case. Trudy Xhala-Mavimbela from the eMalahleni Executive Mayor’s Office commented, “We welcomed the outcome. It was a tough journey, but the justice system prevailed. We will continue to help families affected by GBV.”
