BLOEMTONTEIN – The Free State High Court in Bloemfontein sentenced Dakalo Nemangwele (36) to 25 years imprisonment on 17 September after he pleaded guilty to murdering his wife.

The court heard how Nemangwele drove with his wife Mudzunga Ramalata (29) from Soweto to Bloemfontein for a job interview in January. Whilst driving back on the N1 National Road in the Verkeerdevlei policing precinct, he fired multiple shots at his wife, fatally wounding her before disposing of her body in bushes near Uitkyk farm.

Nemangwele then drove to Musina in Limpopo, where he abandoned his vehicle and firearms with two friends.

Following several failed attempts by family members to contact the couple, they were reported missing on 20 January. During investigations, the vehicle was traced through a tracking system and found in Musina, where Nemangwele had left it before fleeing to Zimbabwe.

The Bloemfontein K9 Unit and the tracking company searched along the route travelled from Bloemfontein, identifying three locations where the vehicle had stopped along the N1.

On 22 January, police found empty firearm cartridges at the second location. At the third location, officers discovered Ramalata’s body in a state of decomposition.

Sergeant Thabo Moeketsi of the Verkeerdevlei Detectives led the investigation. It was revealed that the vehicle found in Musina was taken to a car wash after being discovered with blood stains, a bullet hole and a broken window. Two of Nemangwele’s friends were arrested, one for defeating the ends of justice and the other for possession of firearms belonging to the accused.

Nemangwele handed himself in at Musina Police Station on 24 January. He appeared in court in Bloemfontein, where he was denied bail and remanded in custody until trial.

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Cellphone data analysis revealed that the mobile phones of the deceased and accused were traced in the same vicinity at crucial times. Nemangwele was also captured on closed-circuit television travelling with Ramalata inside a white Ford Ranger with a broken window and a hole in the passenger door. He was later captured taking an off-ramp where he disposed of the body before rejoining the N1.

DNA analysis by the Forensic Science Laboratory and testimonies from state witnesses linked Nemangwele to the crime. The evidence presented before court led to the accused pleading guilty to murder.

Judge Soma Naaido described the sentence as one of femicide.

Free State Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Thabang Lesia praised the work done by the investigating officer and external role players in ensuring justice was served.