By BAKANG MOKOTO
13 November 2026 – A boyfriend (33) was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for attempted murder. From 2015 until 2022, Frans Nkuna and the victim were staying at Ethwathwa together and had two children.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in Gauteng, Lumka Mahanjana said on 26 February 2022, the two had returned home from Emperor’s Palace, where they had attended a birthday celebration of Nkuna’s uncle. Mahanjana said when they arrived home, there was no electricity, so they decided to sit outside around a fire with others.
“While sitting outside, Nkuna started accusing the victim of cheating. The victim went inside the house and started ironing her work clothes. While ironing, Nkuna came inside the house and continued to accuse the victim.
“He then grabbed the iron and placed it on her face and hand while the iron was still plugged in and hot, which resulted in her sustaining burn wounds. When the victim tried to call her family to alert them of what had happened, Nkuna grabbed the phone and threatened to burn her family’s house if she reported him,” she said.
Mahanjana further said a few days after the incident, the victim went to her parental place. She added that after the family intervention, the victim reported the matter on 16 May 2022, to the police and Nkuna was arrested on the same day.
“In court, he pleaded not guilty to the offences and said he was acting in self-defence. However, the regional court prosecutor, Refiloe Neluonde adduced evidence of the victim, including the J88, which proved the state’s case.
“During the sentencing proceedings the accused, through his legal representative, asked for correctional supervision because Nkuna is a first-time offender, employed and is financially responsible for his two minor children which he shares with the victim,” said Mahanjana.
She said in aggravation, the prosecutor argued that the victim suffered a violent crime at the hands of someone she loved and trusted because he was jealous. Mahanjana said Neluonde further asked the court to impose a sentence of direct imprisonment because Nkuna did not show any remorse and continued to deny committing the offence, maintaining that he was acting in self-defence.
“When delivering the sentence, the acting regional court magistrate agreed with the state that the victim suffered a degree of violence at the hands of her boyfriend. Nkuna, failed to take responsibility and that the conduct of the accused has impacted the victim’s livelihood, as she is no longer confident because of the scar.
“Therefore, the sentence given was fitting. The NPA hopes that the sentence will send a message that the NPA takes Gender-Based Violence (GBV) offences seriously and that this sentence will serve as a deterrent to those who want to be offenders,” she said.
Mahanjana said Nkuna was further declared unfit to possess a firearm.
