A 37-year-old man has been sentenced to an effective 22 years in prison after setting his girlfriend alight in an attack that also claimed the life of her one-year-and-seven-month-old son.
Manga Ayanda was sentenced by the Alexandria Regional Court in the Eastern Cape on 17 September 2026, following his conviction on charges of murder and culpable homicide.
According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), Ayanda poured a flammable liquid on his 33-year-old girlfriend and set her alight following an argument.
01/05
Get seen where South Africa reads.
Homepage, category & newsletter placements.
02/05
Own the homepage. Just for a day.
Takeovers & sponsored placements, built to spec.
03/05
Don't wait for the 6 o'clock news.
Follow The Baseline on Facebook.
04/05
Straight to your phone. Before anyone else's.
Follow The Baseline on WhatsApp Channels.
05/05
News, refined.
No noise. Just the story.
During the incident, the woman’s young son was also splashed with the flammable liquid. The child sustained injuries and died four days later.
In response to questions from The Baseline, Eastern Cape police spokesperson Captain Marius McCarthy confirmed that Ayanda received 18 years’ direct imprisonment for murder and an additional six years for culpable homicide.
Two years of the six-year sentence will run concurrently with the murder sentence, bringing his effective prison term to 22 years.
The case was investigated by Detective Sergeant Koeries of the Kenton-on-Sea Detective Unit.
Police confirmed that Ayanda remained out on bail throughout the trial until his conviction and sentencing.
Sarah Baartman District Commissioner Major General Thandiswa Kupiso welcomed the sentence, condemning the violence that resulted in the deaths of the woman and child.
“The horrific manner in which the victim’s life was taken underlines the absolute cruelty we are determined to root out of our communities,” Kupiso said.
Kupiso also praised the investigating team for pursuing the case despite Ayanda being released on bail during the trial.
“Even when a suspect is out on bail during a trial, our team remains focused on the ultimate goal: securing a conviction that honors the victim and brings closure to the family,” she said.
The sentencing brings to a close a case involving two deaths, including that of a toddler who died four days after being exposed to the flammable liquid during the attack.
