Action Society is infuriated by yet another delay in the murder case of Nosiphiwo James. The sentencing of convicted murderer Sivuyile Tshabile—expected to take place today—has now been postponed to 8 September 2025 due to the probation and pre-sentencing report still being outstanding. This latest delay is yet another devastating blow to a family that has already waited more than three years for justice.
“This postponement is not just an administrative issue—it is a disgrace,” said Kaylynn Palm, head of Action Society’s Action Centre in the Western Cape. “Nosiphiwo’s family has endured delay after delay, intimidation, evasions and trauma. To now have to wait another two months for sentencing after a guilty verdict has already been delivered is an unacceptable failure of the justice system.”
Tshabile brutally murdered Nosiphiwo James in May 2022. He fled to the Eastern Cape and evaded arrest until Action Society intervened and helped SAPS track him down. Since then, the case has been repeatedly postponed due to missing documents, unavailable witnesses, and systemic failures that continue to undermine victims’ rights in South Africa.
Even after conviction, the justice system continues to fail this family. Delays like today’s don’t just cause frustration—they retraumatise victims’ families and destroy confidence in the courts.
“What more must this family endure?” Palm added. “Why does our justice system keep protecting perpetrators with procedural excuses while forcing grieving families to relive their trauma over and over again?”
Action Society demands that this be the final delay in the matter. The justice system must act swiftly, decisively, and with compassion for those who have suffered. South African families deserve better than a court process that drags on endlessly while killers wait comfortably behind procedural shields.
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