The Incident

In January 2023, Lindelani Nengovhela, was found dead in a water-filled pit latrine in Limpopo. She was the partner of the Limpopo comedian, Livhuwani Madadzhe. It was a tragic end to Nengovhela’s long struggle with intimate partner violence. The day before her murder, Lindelani Nengovhela had withdrawn charges against her famous comedian partner after going through a mediation process with him.

The Survivor’s Story

Lindelani Nengovhela, known as Mme a Muofhe, had endured years of suffering at the hands of her partner. Her ordeal included physical violence (against herself and her children), emotional abuse, and financial exploitation. She was caught in a cycle of abuse: she would reach her wits end, and attempt to lay charges, only to be beguiled back into the relationship with Livhu again.

Perpetrator’s Profile

Livhu, the accused, had his contract with Universal Studios suspended and had award nominations withdrawn because of accusations of gender violence, even prior to the femicide accusation.

Legal Outcome

Livhu was granted bail for R50,000, with the case experiencing multiple delays. As of December 2023, the matter had not proceeded to trial, highlighting potential issues within the judicial system in dealing with high-profile cases of domestic violence.

Legal & Societal Context

South Africa’s Constitution and various laws provide robust protections against violence and discrimination, including the Protection from Harassment Act and the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act. Despite these legal frameworks, the case illustrates challenges in their effective implementation and enforcement, particularly in high-profile cases.