Story By: Maja Mishevksa, Sub Editor: Marija Stojkoska, Agency: Newsflash

A South African man is facing trial for killing his wife and later claiming that he thought she was an intruder in a case that has been compared to Oscar Pistorius.

The incident took place in the suburb of Norkem Park in the city of Kempton Park in South Africa’s Gauteng Province at around 4am on 3rd August last year.

Hlengiwe Msimango, 30, who was the mother of a three-year-old girl and an eight-month-old baby boy, was allegedly shot dead by her husband Mosa Ntsibande, 33.

On the day of the incident, Ntsibande was woken up by his wife who told him there was somebody in their garden so he grabbed his licensed gun and went to look.

Once he came back to the bedroom, he said he saw a figure he did not recognise and fired two shots.

Msimango’s family is convinced her death is a case of gender-based violence and wants Ntsibande prosecuted for murder.

The victim’s cousin Sine Mhlongo told The Citizen: “When I arrived at the scene, we found that she had been shot twice in the chest, and he claimed he thought there was an intruder in the house.

“My cousin was fully dressed; it seems they were having an argument. He lied with this story to cover up.”

Msimango’s aunt Thandi Nkumane said: “He hasn’t shown any remorse since he killed my child. He doesn’t see anything wrong in what he has done.

“His two children, aged four and 16 months, are with me at home. Ntsibande’s third child from his previous relationship is staying with his mother. His children are traumatised by the incident. They will never see Msimango again.”

Msimango’s family lawyer Matthew Temlett said they have been waiting for the public prosecutors to decide whether the case should take place at Kempton Park Court or escalated to the Gauteng High Court.

Temlett said: “It is not in dispute that he killed the deceased. It is now whether the killing was intentional or not.

“His version is that there was an intruder, he went to inspect and when he came to the bedroom, he saw a figure in the bedroom and opened fire. It is very reminiscent of the Oscar Pistorius case.”

In the mentioned case, disabled runner Oscar Pistorius was jailed for 15 years for murder after he shot and killed his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp after claiming he thought she was an intruder on Valentine’s Day in 2013.

Ntsibande remains at liberty on ZAR 10 000 (GBP 490) bail while having to report to the local police station daily.

The next hearing has been scheduled for 8th April.

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