Judge condemns mother for brutal murder of her 5-year-old son, sentencing her to 25 years
Noxolo Pearl Ngqono has been sentenced to 25-years imprisonment for killing her five-year old son.
Image: Tracy-Lynn Ruiters
“Your kids will grow up knowing that their mother killed their older brother, it is a stigma forced by you. They are safe now, they are with their father.”
With these words, Acting Judge Amanda van Leeve sentenced Noxolo Pearl Ngqono to an effective 25 years imprisonment for the murder of her five-year-old son in the Western Cape High Court, currently sitting in the Wynberg Regional Court.
Van Leeve also declared Ngqono unfit to work with children and unfit to possess a firearm.
The accused stood with her hands in her pockets as sentence was handed down following emotional sentencing proceedings centred on the brutal death of her son, Novelo.
In delivering sentence, Van Leeve pointed to the fact that Ngqono never testified during trial proceedings or fully explained the events leading to the child’s death.
“The court found it interesting that the accused did not testify and take the court into confidence,” Van Leeve said.
“In fact, you said absolutely nothing.”
The judge questioned how a five-year-old child could possibly defend himself against such violence.
“The question is how does a five-year-old defend himself?” she asked.
“A message must be sent out and must be clear that behaviour you displayed will never be tolerated.”
Van Leeve further said society expects the courts to protect vulnerable victims, particularly in violent crimes involving children.
“Society expects and almost demands that courts must protect their interests, especially in violent cases,” she said.
“Murder is an extremely serious offence, the murder of a child at the hands of the mother is outrageous.”
The judge also referred to the State’s closing arguments during sentencing proceedings, where prosecutors argued that Novelo suffered a painful and traumatic death.
Van Leeve said the extensive injuries detailed during the postmortem highlighted the brutality of the assault.
“The State argued that he had his whole life ahead of him and you cut it short,” Van Leeve said.
“It is clear that the manner of his death is horrid.”
She further remarked that throughout the proceedings very few people had spoken directly about the young victim himself.
“No one spoke for Novelo,” she said.
“Only his teachers and his stepfather’s sister spoke about him.”
Van Leeve also referred to emotional testimony by Ngqono’s husband during sentencing proceedings, where he pleaded with the court “not to throw away the keys” despite acknowledging that his wife deserved punishment.
However, the judge pointed out that even during his evidence, little was said about the murdered child himself or the impact his death had on the family.
The court also rejected arguments by the defence that Ngqono’s actions may have been influenced by underlying mental health struggles linked to pregnancy or postpartum conditions.
“There was no evidence before this court to suggest that the accused suffered from a diagnosed mental condition,” Van Leeve said, referring to testimony by the defence social worker who conceded she was not qualified to diagnose psychiatric illnesses.
“The court does not see any substantial and compelling circumstances to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence.”
Van Leeve said the court had carefully weighed Ngqono’s personal circumstances, the seriousness of the offences and the interests of society before arriving at sentence.
“Taking into consideration the personal circumstances, seriousness of the offence and the community, the court sentences the accused on count one to 10 years imprisonment and on count two to 15 years imprisonment.”
“That is 25 years imprisonment which will run concurrently.”
Following sentencing, Ngqono’s defence indicated its intention to appeal both conviction and sentence.
Ngqono was found guilty earlier this year after the court concluded that the State had proved beyond reasonable doubt that she fatally assaulted Novelo with a mop.
Evidence before court showed the child suffered multiple severe injuries, including a fractured skull, defensive wounds, spinal injuries and internal damage to the pancreas and liver.
The court also heard that the child had previously been removed from Ngqono’s care in 2019 following signs of abuse before later being returned to her.