A Xolani woman who murdered her boyfriend in his room in July last year has been sentenced to 15 years in prison. Ntombomzi Smile appeared dumbfounded when magistrate Ronny Lesele sentenced her to 15 years imprisonment in the Grahamstown Regional Court on Friday, 23 January. Lesele convicted Smile for the murder of Xolani resident Bonakele 'Ta Soul' Ngqiyaza and moments later sentenced her. Smile was arrested and charged with Ngqiyaza's murder on 25 July last year. The couple argued in Ngqiyaza's room behind his Nonzube Street house leading to Ngqiyaza's death. In her defence Smile told the court that an infuriated Ngqiyaza swore at her, calling her names as he punched her with his fists and tried to strangle her. A short while into the fight, Smile claims, Ngqiyaza took a stick and started beating her with it before she managed to overpower him and get the stick from him. She told the court she threw the stick away as they continued to struggle. At this point, she said, Ngqiyaza grabbed a knife on a table next to his bed and tried to stab her; however, she held on to the hand carrying the knife. They continued to fight for possession of the knife. Smile said she eventually managed to overpower Ngqiyaza and gained possession of the knife. She told the court that she stabbed Ngqiyaza once in the chest. In court it emerged that Smile had several previous convictions including a conviction of murder in 2003. In court on Friday the 31-year-old woman pleaded not guilty to the murder charges. She said she had stabbed Ngqiyaza in self defence. Lesele rejected her evidence as false and sentenced her to 15 years in prison on Friday 23 July.
