Noxolo Pearl Ngqono will learn her sentence next week after being convicted of murdering her five-year-old son.

The matter was heard in the Wynberg Regional Court, sitting as the Western Cape High Court, where final arguments were made before Acting Judge Amanda van Leeve.

The court heard that Ngqono beat her young son with a mop after he soiled himself. The child later died from severe injuries.

Sentencing has now been postponed to May 14, as the court weighs several factors before handing down its decision.

Defence Asks for Lighter Sentence

Ngqono’s defence asked the court to move away from the prescribed minimum sentence.

Her lawyer argued that the offences happened during a period of “acute stress” in her life. The defence pointed to retrenchment, the Covid-19 pandemic and pregnancy as factors at the time.

The court also heard that Ngqono was 28 years old when the murder happened. Her legal team argued that she was still a young mother and claimed her brain development was not yet fully complete.

The defence further argued that she was not a danger to society and posed a low risk of reoffending.

According to submissions made in court, her lawyer said she had “good prospects of rehabilitation”. The defence also referred to trauma Ngqono allegedly experienced after the incident, including separation from her children, emotional distress and financial hardship.

A social worker’s report was also raised in court. It suggested possible mental health links to pregnancy and postnatal struggles, but no formal psychiatric diagnosis was made.

Ngqono’s lawyers asked for a 10-year sentence, with five years suspended.

State Says Crime Demands Serious Sentence

The State pushed back strongly, arguing that the violence of the crime must be reflected in the sentence.

The prosecutor told the court that Ngqono’s surviving children are currently in the care of their father. The State also argued that regret does not automatically amount to genuine remorse.

The court heard that the child suffered a fractured skull, defensive wounds, internal injuries to the pancreas and liver as well as spinal injuries.

The prosecutor said the child was attacked by the person meant to protect him.

The State argued that the five-year-old was “robbed of his future” and said his pain and fear had to be considered before sentence is passed.