How a Durban woman killed her father and set him alight
What began as a late-night confrontation between a Durban woman and her father ended with a deadly attack and fire.
On September 5, 2024, a Durban woman named Nompumelelo Mabaso, 25, pleaded guilty to the murder of her father, Dennis Mzimela, in Ntuzuma Regional Court. Mabaso admitted to leaving a friend's house at midnight and spotting her father, who was intoxicated, outside their home. An argument ensued, during which Mzimela attempted to catch her.
Mabaso claimed she ran outside, pursued him, and stomped on him multiple times before using a toy gun to strike him on the head. Her neighbors intervened, urging Mzimela to return indoors and lock the door. Mabaso stated she later retrieved a garden hoe from the kitchen, struck her father on the head once more, placed a plastic bin bag over his head, and ignited it, causing the house to catch fire.
Mzimela died from blunt force trauma to the head and secondary charring. Police apprehended Mabaso at a nearby family residence. Her legal counsel, Sakhile Zondi, argued that the court should consider her first-time offense, remorse, and lack of wasted time as mitigating factors during sentencing. The prosecutor, Kaystree Ramsamujh, demanded a life sentence, emphasizing that sexual abuse allegations could not justify her actions.
Mzimela's sister expressed the family's devastation, emphasizing the loss of their brother who had been supporting them.
Written by urgent.news from IOL's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
