A woman who was shot and wounded by her lover on the eve of Valentine’s Day has succumbed to her injuries.
Gcebile Magagula (39) of Macudvulwini passed away last Friday after spending a week in the intensive care unit (ICU) at Mbabane Government Hospital. She was admitted on February 13 after she was allegedly shot twice by her lover, Sanele Ndzimandze (39), who is from the same area.
According to the deceased’s eldest daughter, Zandile Mndzebele, Magagula and Ndzimandze’s relationship had been rocky, with the latter allegedly physically abusing her mother on several occasions.
Earlier on the day of the incident, Mndzebele said the couple had an argument which allegedly turned violent.
Noting that the abuse had been ongoing, her mother decided to go to Mankayane Police Station to seek intervention.
Zandile emphasised that her mother did not intend to open a case against Ndzimandze, but only wanted police to broker peace between them.
The couple was reportedly advised to resolve their issues or consider taking a break from each other.
“Sanele refused the suggestion to separate, saying my mother owed him,” alleged Zandile.
Zandile said her mother operated a Mobile Money business and also sold chickens from her parental homestead. She had 300 chickens, half of which were reportedly purchased by Ndzimandze in support of the business.
After returning from the police station on February 13, Magagula allegedly decided to give Ndzimandze about 147 chicks as part of his contribution. The rest had reportedly died.
This allegedly infuriated Ndzimandze, who was employed as a cross-border truck driver. It is alleged that upon reaching his parental homestead, located not far from the Magagula home, he took his father’s shotgun.
Before leaving, he reportedly requested cellphones from his parents and another belonging to a child, allegedly to prevent them from alerting the police or Magagula’s family.
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He allegedly left around 6pm and arrived at the Magagula homestead before 8pm.
He knocked on the door. Since Magagula sold Mobile Money services, the knock was assumed to be from a customer. Her 12-year-old daughter opened the door and was allegedly shoved back inside.
At the time, Magagula was lying on the bed with a five-year-old child and was ordered to get up. An argument reportedly ensued, attracting the attention of Magagula’s mother.
“When my grandmother went to my mother’s house, she was dragged inside and the door was shut behind her,” alleged Zandile.
Four cellphones — two belonging to Magagula and others belonging to family members — were allegedly confiscated before Ndzimandze shot Magagula in the right thigh and chest.
While she lay bleeding, her mother reportedly managed to escape and scream for help. Ndzimandze allegedly fled the scene with the cellphones.
Shortly after, a gunshot was reportedly heard from a distance, leading to speculation that he had shot himself.
He could not be found that night. However, his vehicle was later discovered abandoned along the road towards the Magagula homestead, containing eight cellphones, including his own. An opened package of pesticide was also found inside the vehicle, raising suspicions that he may have ingested it.
It was only last Thursday that Ndzimandze reportedly returned to his homestead after spending time in a nearby forest, requesting food. After eating, he allegedly apologised to his family, who then handed him over to police.
Last Friday, he appeared before the Manzini Magistrate’s Court, where he allegedly confessed to a charge of attempted murder.
The charge was later upgraded to murder following Magagula’s death, as confirmed by acting Deputy Police Information and Communications Officer Inspector Mazwi Ndzimandze.
