On October 13, 2024, around 17:30, 25-year-old Yvonne Maja stormed to her ex-boyfriend's home, consumed by fury upon discovering him with his new partner, 27-year-old Mmapeu Neo Hlanga as what began as a heated argument quickly turned horrific as Maja insulted Hlanga before pouring acid over her face and body.
The corrosive substance ravaged Hlanga's skin, inflicting devastating burns that required immediate transfer from Zebediela Hospital to Mankweng Hospital.
She endured seven agonizing months of treatment, emerging with permanent scars that have altered her life forever.
Maja's ex-boyfriend, a 28-year-old man caught in the chaos, suffered lesser injuries but shared in the trauma of that fateful evening.
Hlanga, once vibrant and confident, has spoken candidly about the attack's deep emotional toll in interviews following the conviction, expressing mixed relief at the justice served.
Community support rallied around her, raising over R120,000 to aid her recovery and restore some dignity robbed by the assault.
The Mokopane Regional Court convicted Maja of attempted murder and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm on December 1, 2025.
On February 9, 2026, she received 18 years' direct imprisonment for attempted murder and two years for assault GBH, running concurrently for an effective 20-year term.
Limpopo Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe welcomed the outcome, reaffirming the South African Police Service's commitment.
She stated that such acts will not be tolerated and perpetrators will be held accountable through the criminal justice system, particularly in domestic and relationship-related disputes.
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