Man who wore heels, wig to kill ex-wife sentenced to 25 years behind bars. It’s taken almost three years of court cases and trauma but the family can finally get some peace.

This after the man who put on a disguise including a wig, heels and drove to a funeral with the specific intention of killing his ex-wife was found guilty and sentenced to an effective 25 years behind bars.

Phumeza Pepeta’s family will never see her again, but at least they won’t have to worry about bumping into her killer on the streets or stress about him approaching their children.

Xolani Mkanyi (58) made his last appearance at the Gqeberha high court, where he asked the court to be lenient.

He told the court that he had essentially snapped after being denied access to his child.

He went to the funeral dressed in a skirt, heels, sunglasses and a wig only to pull a gun on Phumeza. He was apprehended by mourners and handed over to the police after shooting her in the abdomen and forehead.

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According to family, this was after multiple incidents where he was abusive and stalked her even after they went their separate ways in 2019.

In his statement to the court, Xolani said he had killed her because after their divorce in 2019, she apparently would not let him see their daughter and in fact obtained a protection order against him.

“The fact that she obtained a protection order against me which prevented me from seeing my daughter . . . left me very bitter.”

He said it affected him emotionally and psychologically. “So much so I was willing to do anything to hurt my ex-wife and make her feel the pain I was feeling.”

Before this statement to the court, he wrote the same in a letter and sent it to someone close to the Pepeta family. The family felt unsafe, even with him behind bars.

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They are scared of him, Phumeza’s sister Phelo told Drum at the time.

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“We are still alive,” a heartbroken Phelo says. “To tell you the truth, I don’t know how I am holding up. I have to be strong for my mom, for my niece and nephew who witnessed all of that because he was at the funeral,” she explains.

In the letter, he says he was denied access to see his daughter and suffered because of that. “You have left me no option but to kill you in order to end the pain and send a strong message to all those refusing or contemplating to refuse fathers access to their children.”

The family told Drum in 2021 that they hoped he got a life sentence.

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