On 18 October 2020 sixty eight year old Phyllis Lillian Mzindle, was severely assaulted and found on the road in Kwa Madlala, Umzumbe left to die. She was taken to Port Shepstone Hospital with severe head injuries which caused her to remain a coma for a month until she passed away.
A case of assault GBH was initially opened at SAPS Southport for investigation but was later changed to a murder case. A suspect who was from the same area and a distant relative, was identified and traced by Southport Detective Services and arrested at his place of employment in Port Shepstone shortly after the assault occurred by Sergeant Sibongiseni Xaba.
The investigating officer, WO Chris du Plessis strongly opposed bail and the accused remained in police custody throughout his trail. The intense and thorough investigation included several trips to three different hospital in different areas to obtain statements from doctors’ who treated the victim. Further to that, the lead witness was a minor who had been traumatized by the violent assault.
However, the accused, Cyprian Mzindle (48) was finally sentenced in the Port Shepstone Magistrate’s Court on 29 August 2022 to life imprisonment. He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
UGU District Detective Commander, Brigadier Bongani Sibiya welcomed the good conviction as a result of the comprehensive investigation by the detectives. He further added that the sentence sends out a strong message to those perpetrators found guilty of gender based violence, that the penalty will be severe.