Slain wife ‘endured abuse for years’

We knew about his infidelity, say residents

A 49-year-old Soweto businessman who allegedly shot and killed his wife in full view of their two children had been served with a protection order days before the killing.

Abednego Sibusiso Nyembe yesterday appeared briefly in the Protea magistrate’s court in Soweto on charges of murder and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition. He allegedly shot and killed his wife, Bangisiwe Nyembe, in their Mofolo home on Monday.

His matter was postponed to October 17 for formal bail application.

A relative, who asked not to be named, told Sowetan Nyembes’ marriage was strained by the accused who had been seeing another woman in the neighbourhood for three years.

“The family knew that he was involved with another woman, Bangi knew as well.

“Their fights intensified after she found that he apparently paid ilobolo for the other woman,” the relative said.

“Things got heated because he threatened to kill her and that’s when she got a protection order against him.”

The relative explained that they last saw Bangisiwe alive in a family meeting on Sunday.

“He was not around but returned on Monday morning when he knew that nobody else was around except Bangi and their two children.”

Nyembe allegedly shot Bangisiwe several times in the upper body in front of their two children aged 15 and 17.

Nyembe handed himself over to the Moroka police hours after the shooting.

“We are torn as a family because this is something that you read about in the papers and hear in the news but you would never imagine it would happen so close to home,” said the relative.

Bangisiwe was described as kind and sweet, and was responsible for uniting the Nyembe fa mily.

“She was not secretive and told us everything. We are going to miss her dearly.”

Nyembe and his wife ran several restaurants which specialised in traditional cuisine. The main restaurant was situated around Eyethu Centre, a cultural hub in Mofolo.

Neighbours described Nyembe as a frigid character who was often unfriendly towards his customers.

Nkanyiso Mkhonto, a neighbour, told Sowetan the couple had been fighting for years and was not shocked by Bangisiwe’s violent demise.

“Everyone in the community knew he was openly cheating on his wife with a nyatsi from around here,” the neighbour said.

He added that Bangisiwe had been in an abusive relationship and that the couple’s fights could sometimes be heard streets away.

“He [Nyembe] threatened to kill her over the weekend. He told her that he would douse her with petrol and set her alight because he suspected that she was cheating on him. But he was the one who was cheating.”

Nomasonto Dlamini, another neighbour, said she heard shouting and screaming followed by several gunshots emanating from the Nyembe household.

“He had been beating her up for years and she would sometimes sleep in the house next door because they would be fighting.

“On Monday, I could hear them arguing again but I could not really make out what it was about and then I heard a few gunshots.

“Later, I saw him [Nyembe] hurriedly jumping into his car before driving off,” Dlamini said.

‘ ‘ He was openly cheating with a local nyatsi