Update: South African man commits suicide after killing his girlfriend and posting photo of her lifeless body on Facebook

A South African man Sibusiso Lawrence, who killed his girlfriend, Nontobeko Cele and posted a photo of her lifeless body on Facebook has been found dead. 

Lawrence, from KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), sparked outrage after sharing a video on social media of him saying he m8rdered his girlfriend because she wanted to leave him after receiving money from the Road Accident Fund (RAF). 

The photo shows 25-year-old Nontobeko lying on her back and facing up, with what appears to be stab wounds on her neck. Her clothing is soaked in blood. 

The chilling video, which went viral on Tuesday night, December 17, 2024, left many shocked and horrified. 

In the video, Lawrence attempted to justify his actions, claiming he was driven by alleged ill-treatment within their relationship.

KZN police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said Lawrence’s body was found hanging from a tree on Wednesday morning, December 18. 

“A man who had confessed to killing a woman on a social media video that went viral was found hanging on a tree on Wednesday morning at Malangeni area in Umzinto, a short distance from where he killed the woman,” Netshiunda said. 

Netshiunda said officers responded to reports of a murder on a gravel road in the Malangeni area in Umzinto. 

The body of a 25-year-old woman was found lying in the middle of the road.

“Her bloodied body was found with several stab wounds and a broken knife was found next to her body.”

He said Lawrence allegedly fetched his girlfriend from her home and it is suspected that the duo had a domestic-related altercation which escalated to the murder.

“The suspect’s vehicle was found abandoned down the road from where the woman’s body was found, and blood on the front passenger seat suggested that the suspect killed the woman inside his vehicle.

“A manhunt was quickly launched and an intensive search by police led to the discovery of the suspect’s body which was hanging on a tree, in what is believed to be a suicide,” Netshiunda said.

Netshiunda added that they are investigating a case of murder. 

An inquest docket will also be opened for further investigation.