The Bafokeng Regional Court has sentenced 25-year-old Aroni Mabunda to 15 years of direct imprisonment after convicting him of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH), read with the provisions of the Domestic Violence Act.
The heavy sentence follows a violent incident where Mabunda brutally stabbed his ex-girlfriend.
The court heard that on 10 October 2025, Mabunda accused the victim of cheating before plunging a knife into her back, inflicting life-threatening injuries that forced her to be hospitalised for two weeks.
Though Mabunda pleaded not guilty to the charge and attempted to evade justice, the state, represented by Prosecutor Zola Mpayipheli, shattered his defence by presenting compelling witness testimony that secured a definitive conviction.
During the sentencing phase, the prosecution fiercely argued that gender-based violence (GBV) remains a devastating plague in South Africa.
Prosecutor Mpayipheli submitted that violent acts against women demand severely punitive measures to send an unyielding warning that domestic terror will simply not be tolerated by the state.
In handing down the 15-year term, the presiding magistrate remarked with dismay that certain individuals continue to show absolute contempt for women and the law, despite the harsh sentences routinely handed out by the judiciary.
The court emphasized that its message to any prospective offenders must be crystal clear: the legal system will never hesitate to impose maximum accountability on those who resort to violence to resolve relationship disputes.
Following the ruling, National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Lindiwe Mabasa confirmed that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in the North West warmly commended Prosecutor Mpayipheli and Investigating Officer Sergeant Tshireletso Ramafoko for their tireless diligence.
Mabasa reiterated that the NPA welcomes the sentence as an absolute triumph for the criminal justice system’s ongoing battle against gender-based violence and femicide.
