A desperate plea for forgiveness was one of several text messages Yibanathi Macgyver Ndema sent to his wife, Noluvuyo Nonkwelo-Ndema, and about 20 other people.
The last message was sent just hours before Noluvuyo was killed on June 30 2019.
Her remains would only be found two years later, buried in cement under the bathtub in their home in Vulindlela village, near Butterworth.
Ndema, a cabinet maker, is accused of murdering his wife. He appeared in front of Mthatha high court judge Buyiswa Majki facing a count of premeditated murder, one of defeating the ends of justice and three of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The court heard that Noluvuyo had feared for her life. In an affidavit to police made in January 2019, months before her disappearance, the mother of two alleged her husband had threatened to kill her.
“My husband, Yibanathi Ndema, is abusive, [he] beats me many times. He is abusive, and on January 20 2019 [he] also threatened to kill me and accused me of cheating on him,” her affidavit read.
The prosecutor, advocate Sibusiso Nolutshungu, asked investigating officer Detective Sgt Lonwabo Mbekile to read a litany of messages retrieved from Ndema’s cellphone.
The messages had been sent to his wife and about 20 other people, including his in-laws, her friends and colleagues.
On the morning of June 27 2019, He texted several people, including his wife.
“I wish I can explain, but I don’t have courage, I have not been myself and I turned into a very bad person, an animal, in [a] very short period, and believe me I am no saint, but some very bad things happened to me too,” said one of the messages.