A man from South Africa, Poyisa Gilbert Voyiya, has been sentenced to life in prison for the brutal murder of his wife, Nelly Coldetia Voyiya. The Mpumalanga High Court in Middelburg gave the sentence on April 10, 2025.

Poyisa, 46, and Nelly, 36, were going through a divorce when the crime happened. They were legally married and had a 12-year-old child together.

The incident took place on April 19, 2022, in Emalahleni. Nelly was driving when Poyisa followed her, causing her to crash into a streetlight. She tried to run away on foot, but he chased her and stabbed her several times in her upper body. He then escaped to Standerton, where he told his cousin what happened. His cousin later took him to the police.

Nelly was taken to the hospital, but sadly, she passed away due to her injuries. A postmortem revealed she died from multiple stab wounds.

Poyisa admitted to the crime and said he was mentally unstable at the time. However, doctors confirmed he was mentally fit to face trial. The court found him guilty of premeditated murder and declared him unfit to own a gun in the future.

Senior State Advocate Bakedi Maoke said that even though he pleaded guilty, the crime was very serious. She spoke about how gender-based violence and femicide continue to hurt families across South Africa, especially children like the couple’s young child, who lost his mother.

The court agreed and sentenced Poyisa to life imprisonment. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said this sentence shows that the justice system will not tolerate violence against women.

Mr. Sonja Ntuli, Director of Public Prosecutions in Mpumalanga, said this tragic case reminds everyone of the painful effects of gender-based violence. He added that the NPA will continue to fight such crimes and support victims.

The NPA also called on communities to report abuse and support efforts to stop violence against women and children. They believe justice can only be achieved when everyone works together.