A Pretoria High Court has convicted a 47-year-old man from Soshanguve, South Africa, for the premeditated murder of his estranged wife after he scalded her with boiling water. Sydney Maseti attacked Yvone Yolanda Maseti, 39, in October 2022 after the couple had been separated for more than eight months following his affair with his brother-in-law’s girlfriend.
During the trial, Maseti denied responsibility, claiming his wife had burned herself. Prosecutors, however, presented evidence from nine witnesses, including three medical experts and the couple’s eldest child, which detailed the assault and its fatal outcome.
At the time of the attack, Yvone had moved into rented accommodation in Soshanguve Block TT with the couple’s three children, while Maseti remained in the marital home. According to the National Prosecuting Authority, Maseti went to his wife’s residence on the evening of October 28, 2022, intending to confront her. An argument broke out, and he forced her to return to his home.
Once inside, Maseti allegedly instructed the children to stay in their bedroom before pouring boiling water on Yvone in the bathtub. The eldest child alerted the police after hearing her mother’s screams. When officers arrived, Maseti had fled, and the child opened the gate for authorities. Police found Yvone crawling across the lounge floor, telling them that her husband had burned her.
Yvone was taken to hospital but died on December 31, 2022. A postmortem examination confirmed her death was caused by severe burns requiring surgical intervention. Maseti later surrendered to the police, and the children were placed in temporary care. The court has scheduled the case for a pre-sentence report on November 6.
