The judge found the couple showed no remorse for abusing and killing their one-year-old daughter, Sphesihle.
The Pretoria North Magistrate’s Court sent a strong message against crimes targeting children by sentencing a couple for brutally murdering and abusing their one-year-old daughter.
Joseph Molwana (25) and Zanele Njobe (20) were sentenced to life imprisonment and 15 years, respectively, for the premeditated murder of their daughter, Sphesihle Nonlanhla Njobe.
The court sentenced Njobe to 15 years under the Child Justice Act, as she had been a minor at the time of the offence.
Couple sentenced for brutal murder of baby girl
On 15 May 2022, the couple woke up at Njobe’s residence and noticed their daughter was unresponsive. Molwana and Njobe called their neighbours, and upon their arrival, the pair realised that little Sphesihle had died.
The couple then notified Njobe’s family, community members, and the police. When the police arrived, they arrested Molwana and Njobe at the scene.
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In court, the couple pleaded not guilty, claiming that they didn’t know what happened to the toddler.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said Molwana and Njobe told the court that Sphesihle had been crying the previous night, but they didn’t know what was wrong, and they fell asleep.
“However, State Prosecutor Hanlie du Preez led compelling evidence from a pathologist, which revealed that the child had been severely abused, with four broken ribs, bruises, and bite marks on her body,” Mahanjana said.
Evidence showed child was severely abused
During sentencing proceedings, the defence requested a deviation from the prescribed minimum sentences, arguing that Molwana was a first-time offender who had been in custody for over two years, and that Njobe, a minor at the time, lacked parental guidance.
However, Du Preez urged the court to impose the prescribed sentence of life imprisonment, asserting that the couple had deliberately abused their one-year-old child. The prosecutor also stated that the community felt outraged by the incident and looked to the court to deliver justice.
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In delivering judgment, Magistrate Pieter Nel agreed with the prosecution, finding that the couple showed no remorse and that the child had suffered prolonged abuse. He stressed the need to protect society from such people.
“The NPA hopes this sentence sends a strong message that gender-based violence (GBV) and crimes against children remain a priority and will be prosecuted without fear or favour,” Mahanjana said.
Five years for child abuse
The court also sentenced the couple to five years’ direct imprisonment for child abuse and declared both unfit to work with children or possess a firearm.
In addition, Molwana, a Mozambican national, received a two-year direct imprisonment sentence for being in South Africa illegally. The court ruled that all Molwana’s sentences run concurrently with the life sentence.
