The mother of the murdered University of South Africa student, who was allegedly shot dead by her boyfriend after she had served him with a Protection Order, said her daughter will be sorely missed and she hopes the suspect rots behind bars.
This comes after Cato Manor SAPS detectives arrested a 30-year-old man on Friday, 2 July, for allegedly killing Nokwazi Zondi. The suspect, Kwanda Cyprian Phakathi, appeared in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Monday, facing charges of murder, possession of an unlicensed firearm and illegal possession of ammunition. Phakathi has been remanded in police custody where he is awaiting his next court appearance. Cato Crest resident, and tourism student, Zondi, 21, died on-scene after she was allegedly shot by her boyfriend on 9 February. Mother of the deceased, Ntombifuthi Zondi, said there is not a day that goes by where she doesn’t think about her daughter. She described the late Zondi as a person who was friendly and had big dreams.
Cato Manor SAPS communications officer, Captain C A Sibiya, said the deceased died on-scene after being shot five times on the upper body. “The suspect fled the scene on the same day of the shooting and went into hiding in Avoca. With help from community members, detectives worked tirelessly to track him down and he was finally arrested on Friday,” said Cpt Sibiya. He added that the suspect was found in possession of an unlicensed firearm – a silver pistol with a serial number filed off – and 38 rounds of ammunitions. Speaking on how she feels about the arrest of the suspect, she said she hopes he rots in jail. “We as the family are living in fear as the suspect had made threats to kill the whole family. I am happy that he is now behind bars,” she said. “My daughter had big dreams. She said once she has completed her studies she would improve the situation at home as I do not have a job. She wanted to spoil her siblings and me,” said the distraught mother.
