KZN family demands justice after woman fatally stabbed in clothing dispute
A family in oPhongolo is grappling with grief after 35-year-old Nomaswazi Ngidi was fatally stabbed following accusations of stealing clothes from a washing line while visiting her boyfriend.
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A family in oPhongolo, northern KwaZulu-Natal, is searching for answers after their daughter was allegedly killed during a dispute over clothes last weekend.
Nomaswazi Ngidi, 35, died on Sunday while visiting her boyfriend, whose name has been withheld. According to her sister, Zothiwe Ngidi, the family later learned that Nomaswazi had been involved in an altercation with a neighbour at her boyfriend’s home.
Ngidi said the family was informed that the allegedly intoxicated neighbour accused Nomaswazi of stealing clothes from a washing line.
“It is alleged that a verbal argument escalated and the man stabbed my sister twice in the neck. We were told she died at the scene,” said Ngidi.
She said Nomaswazi was a regular visitor to her boyfriend’s home and was often left alone there when he went out to run errands, which is what reportedly happened on the day of the incident.
“The family is still in shock. We are struggling to understand how something so small could end in such a tragic loss,” Ngidi said.
The suspect is believed to be on the run.
“It is alleged that after killing my sister, he did not return home and has not been seen since. This has caused our family immense pain. We keep asking ourselves how it can be so easy for a man to decide to take a life,” she said.
The deceased left behind two children, aged 13 and 11.
“We have explained to them what happened, but they are confused and in disbelief,” Ngidi added.
The family has since spoken to the deceased’s boyfriend, who reportedly offered little detail about the incident.
When approached for comment, the boyfriend confirmed that he knew the alleged killer but asked that his identity not be published.
“I don’t know what came over him. I never knew him to be a violent person or someone who argued with others. I regret that she came to visit, she would still be alive,” he said.
KwaZulu-Natal police confirmed the incident and said a case of murder has been opened and is under investigation.