A 26-year-old Harrismith resident has been sentenced to 15 years of direct imprisonment after a vicious stabbing attack left his 20-year-old girlfriend permanently paralyzed.
Sunday Skhosana appeared in the Harrismith Regional Court, where he was found guilty of attempted murder on June 8, 2026. The following day, on June 9, 2026, he was handed his 15-year sentence. The successful conviction was the result of a collaborative effort between the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the Harrismith Detective Service, under the leadership of Sergeant Lorraine Zimu.
The harrowing incident dates back to October 15, 2025. According to the facts of the case, the victim, Sibongile Radebe, was in Skhosana’s room and expressed her desire to leave. Skhosana refused her request, insisting that she stay the night. This sparked a heated argument, which quickly escalated into a physical assault by the accused.
Radebe managed to escape the room, but Skhosana chased her down. Upon catching her, he stabbed her multiple times, ultimately leaving her unconscious. During the assault, a passing bystander attempted to intervene and rescue Radebe. However, Skhosana turned on the passerby, attacking him and forcing him to flee the scene.
Fortunately, local community members quickly responded to the incident. They managed to subdue and restrain Skhosana while providing critical assistance to the severely injured victim.
Radebe was urgently transported to a local hospital before being transferred to a medical facility in QwaQwa for further treatment. She spent nearly three weeks hospitalized. Tragically, the severe trauma she endured has left her paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair. She is currently receiving ongoing psychological and therapeutic support.
