Thandolwethu Faku, a former police officer, has been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Western Cape High Court for the murder of his ex-girlfriend, Wendy Papu. The tragic incident occurred while the couple’s three-month-old baby and the deceased’s 8-year-old daughter from a previous relationship were asleep.
Faku had previously provided a different account of the events, claiming that he was robbed at gunpoint and forced into the trunk of his car at his partner’s home on the evening of January 9, 2018. However, the court, led by Judge Constance Nziweni, sharply criticized Faku’s testimony, describing his actions as “evil.”
The judge dismissed Faku’s version of events as fictitious and expressed surprise at his belief in its accuracy. Notably, the court found that Faku displayed a lack of remorse and empathy for the family, labeling him an “absolute liar” who failed to comprehend the gravity of his actions on the deceased’s family and her daughters.
Faku has indicated his intention to appeal both his conviction and the life sentence imposed on him. The case adds to the growing concerns around gender-based violence and femicide in South Africa, shedding light on the challenges faced by the legal system in addressing such heinous crimes.