Boyfriend arrested for the murder of his partner on Women's Day

Police in Nemato, Port Alfred, have taken a 40-year-old man into custody following the violent murder of his 37-year-old partner at the Newrest Informal Settlement.

The victim was positively identified as 37-year-old Amanda Kosani, a visitor staying with relatives at the informal settlement.

The incident happened on Sunday, August 9 —Women's Day in South Africa, a day intended to honour and protect women.

Captain Marius McCarthy said: “The victim arrived at an outside room on the relative's premises on Sunday night. Later that evening, the suspect reportedly approached a group of individuals at a local drinking spot, asking them to call an ambulance because he had injured his girlfriend.”

“The witnesses did not take the request seriously at the time, dismissing it due to the couple's history of domestic disputes, combined with the fact that they were consuming alcohol. The grim discovery was made the following morning, Monday, August 10, at approximately 06:30,” she said.

According to reports, a relative grew suspicious after spotting the 40-year-old boyfriend sneaking out of the room.

Upon entering to check on the situation, the relative discovered Kosani motionless on the bed.

The relative immediately alerted the local community, who helped call the police and summon the boyfriend back to the scene. Police officers subsequently located Kosani's lifeless body on the bed.

During a preliminary investigation, officers secured forensic evidence and recovered the suspected murder weapon hidden inside the bed blankets, which was confiscated for analysis.

The boyfriend was arrested at the scene on a murder charge and is scheduled to appear in the Port Alfred Magistrate's Court.

Sarah Baartman District Commissioner Major-General Thandiswa Kupiso condemned the murder, calling it sickening and heartbreaking that a young woman was killed by her partner on Women's Day.

She assured the community that detectives would build a watertight case to hold the killer fully accountable.