Malibongwe Dwabayo Acquitted of Girlfriend's Murder

Malibongwe Dwabayo has been found not guilty of murdering his girlfriend, Andiswa Mpiyana, following a high-profile trial at the Gqeberha High Court. Delivering the verdict on Thursday, Judge Denzil Potgieter ruled that the State failed to prove Dwabayo’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, effectively clearing him of all charges related to Mpiyana’s death.

“The evidence presented was not sufficient to convict the accused. The burden of proof lies with the State, and in this case, that threshold was not met,” said Judge Potgieter in his judgment. The case has drawn public attention since Mpiyana’s tragic death in 2023. Dwabayo was arrested shortly after her body was discovered, with the State alleging he was responsible for her murder. Throughout the trial, however, the defence maintained his innocence, arguing there was a lack of direct evidence linking him to the crime.

Outside the courtroom, reactions were mixed. Some members of the public expressed frustration at the outcome, while others reiterated the importance of upholding the principle of "innocent until proven guilty."

The Mpiyana family has yet to issue a formal statement following the judgment. The National Prosecuting Authority is expected to review the court’s decision before determining whether to pursue an appeal.