Woman Jailed For 20 Years After Valentine’s Day Acid Attack In South Africa
✍️ By Teju/ February 13, 2026/ 1:58pm
A regional court in South Africa has sentenced a young woman to 20 years in prison for a brutal Valentine’s Day acid attack on her ex-boyfriend’s new partner.
The Mokopane Regional Court convicted Yvonne Maja (25), a resident of Ga-Rakgwatha, on charges of attempted murder and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH). She received 18 years for attempted murder and an additional two years for assault, with both sentences ordered to run consecutively.
Court proceedings revealed that the incident occurred on February 14, 2024, in Mogoto village. On the day of the attack, Maja reportedly had a heated phone argument with her ex-boyfriend and his new partner, Mmapeu Hlanga. Later that evening, she went to her ex-boyfriend’s residence where she found the pair together.
Prosecutors told the court that Maja accused her ex-boyfriend of infidelity before producing a bottle containing a corrosive substance. She allegedly poured the liquid on Hlanga’s face and parts of her body, with some of the substance also splashing onto the ex-boyfriend. Medical findings later confirmed that the substance was acid.
The prosecution presented a victim impact statement detailing the severe physical injuries and long-term psychological trauma suffered by Hlanga. The court heard that the attack left the victim permanently disfigured and significantly affected her ability to live freely within her community.
In aggravation, the State argued that Maja failed to accept the end of the relationship, showed no genuine remorse, and was dishonest during court proceedings. The judge agreed, describing the attack as deliberate, calculated, and life-altering.
The sentence has sparked renewed conversations in South Africa about acid violence, relationship-related attacks, and the need for stronger protection for victims.
