The High Court sitting in Mpumalanga, South Africa, has sentenced 29-year-old Jabulani Nkosi to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of his pregnant girlfriend, Boitsoko Khoza. He was also handed an additional five-year sentence for arson.
Nkosi was convicted on Thursday, July 3, 2025, following a detailed trial that uncovered disturbing details of the crime.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Khoza was last seen on November 22, 2023, by a friend. That same day, she informed her colleagues via WhatsApp that she would not be reporting to work, as she planned to travel to her parental home in Mamelodi. When she failed to arrive, her family grew concerned and contacted her friends and colleagues. Her phone was unreachable, prompting them to report her missing.
On the morning of November 25, 2023, Khoza’s flatlet in Evander was found engulfed in flames. Members of the Govan Mbeki Fire Brigade extinguished the fire and discovered her burned body inside the premises.
A post-mortem examination revealed that Khoza had suffered severe physical trauma prior to the fire. She sustained multiple rib fractures and stab wounds, and was ten weeks pregnant at the time of her death.
Nkosi was arrested after confessing the killing to several friends. During the trial, Senior State Advocate Themba Lusenga led compelling evidence, including eyewitness testimonies, expert analysis from fire investigators, and the testimony of a local businessman who revealed that Nkosi sold him Khoza’s cellphone for R650.
During the sentencing phase, the court heard a Victim Impact Statement from Khoza’s mother, who described the emotional devastation and ongoing trauma suffered by the family.
The court found the murder to be particularly cruel and inhumane. Advocate Lusenga noted that Nkosi showed no remorse and failed to provide any explanation for his actions. The prosecution also highlighted the increasing prevalence of gender-based violence (GBV) in South Africa, stressing the aggravated nature of the crime given that Khoza was pregnant.
Nkosi was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder and five years for arson, with the sentences ordered to run concurrently. As a result, he will effectively serve a life term. He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
In response to the verdict, the NPA stated: “The National Prosecuting Authority welcomes the sentence and expresses its satisfaction with the outcome. The NPA remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring justice for victims of gender-based violence and supporting survivors and their families throughout the legal process.”
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