Pretoria – The Pretoria North Magistrates’ Court has sentenced a couple from Soshanguve, Tshwane, to lengthy prison terms for the murder of their one-year-old daughter, whose autopsy revealed she had been severely abused, had four broken ribs, bruises, and bite marks on her body.
The couple – 25-year-old Joseph Molwana, a Mozambican, and 20-year-old Zanele Njobe – were found guilty and sentenced to life in prison and 15 years imprisonment respectively.
Commenting on the matter, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) on Wednesday, (14 May 2025), said it “welcomes the sentences handed down by the Pretoria North Magistrates’ Court”.
Giving details of the sentencing, NPA Gauteng Spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said: “Molwana was sentenced to life imprisonment for the premeditated murder of his 1-year-old daughter, Sphesihle Nonlanhla Njobe”.
Mahanjana added: “Njobe, who was a minor at the time of the offence, was sentenced to 15 years’ direct imprisonment for the same offence, in terms of the Child Justice Act.
“Both were further sentenced to five years’ direct imprisonment for child abuse.
“In addition, Molwana received a two-year direct imprisonment sentence for being in the country illegally.”
The court ordered that all sentences for Molwana run concurrently with the life sentence.
The court also declared both accused unfit to work with children and unfit to possess firearms.
During the trial, the court heard that on 15 May 2022, the couple was at Njobe’s residence.
When they awoke that morning, the couple realised their one-year-old daughter was unresponsive.
They alerted their neighbours, and the police.
The police were informed.
When the police arrived at Njobe’s residence, their preliminary probe pointed to the couple as suspects in the infant’s death.
The police arrested the pair at the scene.
However, in court, both accused pleaded not guilty, claiming they did not know what had happened to their one-year-old daughter.
They said the child had been crying the previous night, but they did not know what was wrong with her.
The accused said they eventually fell asleep.
However, State Prosecutor Hanlie Du Preez led compelling evidence from a pathologist, which revealed that the child had been severely abused.
She had four broken ribs, bruises, and bite marks on her body.
During sentencing proceedings, the defence argued for a deviation from the prescribed minimum sentences, citing Molwana’s status as a first-time offender who had been in custody for over two years, and Njobe’s status as a minor at the time, lacking parental guidance.
However, prosecutor Du Preez urged the court to impose the prescribed sentence of life imprisonment because the couple deliberately committed serious offences of abuse towards their child, who was only a year old.
Furthermore, Du Preez argued that the community was outraged by this offence and their hopes for justice were in the court to send a message through sentencing.
In delivering judgment, Magistrate Pieter Nel agreed with the prosecution, finding that the couple showed no remorse and that the child had suffered prolonged abuse.
He stressed the need to protect society from such individuals.
“The NPA hopes this sentence sends a strong message that Gender-Based Violence and crimes against children remain a priority and will be prosecuted without fear or favour,” said Mahanjana.
