Woman sentenced to 10 years in jail for acid attack on boyfriend

Lethiwe Princess Mthimkhulu was sentenced at the Verulam Regional Court to 10 years imprisonment for the attempted murder of her boyfriend in April 2022.

She was also convicted of stealing his cellphone.

On the day of the incident, Mthimkhulu, 32, went to visit her boyfriend, Phakamani Phumlani Sibiya, 34, at his home in the Magwaveni area of Tongaat.

She offered him acid, on the pretence it was holy water, for colon cleansing, said Natasha Ramkisoon-Kara, regional spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).

“Thereafter Sibiya complained of stomach pains and asked to be taken to the clinic. Mthimkhulu took his phone, saying that she would arrange transport for them, and she never returned his phone. About half an hour later she told him that a vehicle had arrived to take them to the clinic,” said Ms Ramkisoon-Kara.

“However, they drove past the clinic, with Mthimkhulu saying that she wanted to fetch her father from the Tongaat CBD first. Once they fetched this man, who was unknown to Sibiya, they told Sibiya that the man wanted to get traditional medicine to help him (Sibiya). They drove further, eventually stopping at a place where the man got out of the vehicle and returned a few minutes later.”

They then drove back to Mr Sibiya’s house, passing the clinic again. When they were inside the house, the man grabbed Mr Sibiya and pushed him to the floor. Thereafter he and Mthimkhulu forced Mr Sibiya to drink acid. During the struggle, some of the acids spilt onto Mr Sibiya’s face. Ms Ramkisson-Kara said at some point, Mr Sibiya managed to attack the man who then ran away.

Mthimkhulu stayed and poured the acid onto the left side of Mr Sibiya’s head. She then locked him in the house and left. Mr Sibiya was eventually taken to the clinic by his friend, and Mthimkhulu was arrested two days later, said Ms Ramkisson-Kara.

“In court, Prosecutor Nthuthuko Sidwell Mngadi led the evidence of the complainant, as well as the driver of the vehicle who transported Sibiya, Mthimkhulu and the unknown man. Medical evidence documenting the extent of Sibiya’s injuries was also submitted to the court. In aggravation of the sentence, the state handed in a Victim Impact Statement compiled by Sibiya and facilitated by Court Preparation Officer, Bongiwe Qwabe,” said Ms Ramkisson-Kara.

In his statement, Mr Sibiya said that the incident had changed his life completely. He cannot hear as his left ear had to be removed following the incident. Also, he now relies on a colostomy bag. Mr Sibiya said that he would need about R 800 000 for the plastic surgery required to fix his injuries.

Mthimkhulu was sentenced to an effective 10 years imprisonment and she was declared unfit to possess a firearm.