Pietermaritzburg woman arrested for alleged arson murder of ex-boyfriend and his partner
A woman has been arrested and charged with murder, attempted murder, and arson after police allege she set her ex-boyfriend and his new partner alight in their home in France, Mpumelelo, on 10 July 2026.
Nelisiwe Zililo appeared in the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate’s Court shortly after the incident. She remains in custody as bail proceedings continue.
According to uMgungundlovu police spokesperson Sergeant Sifiso Gwala, Thornville police arrested Zililo following the fire. Investigators say she had purchased petrol beforehand and concealed it near the property. Police also allege she sent threatening messages to the victims, warning that they would be burned alive.
The victims, Mzomuhle Shezi and his partner Yoliswa Ngubane, both succumbed to severe burn injuries sustained in the blaze. Shezi leaves behind two young daughters.
A family member told MDN News that the attack stemmed from the breakdown of Shezi’s previous relationship with the accused. The Shezi family has publicly called for justice.
“Our deepest condolences to the Shezi and Ngubane families,” the article’s source noted. “May they find strength and justice.”
This tragedy occurs amid ongoing concerns about gender-based violence in South Africa, where crimes linked to jealousy and relationship breakdowns continue to claim lives. The case is under investigation, and further court appearances are expected.
