The Mpumalanga Division of the High Court sentenced Zanele Mkhonto (30) to 20 years direct imprisonment for the murder of a police officer, Sergeant Mandlenkosi Happy Thwala (47) who was stationed at KaBokweni police station in Mpumalanga.

Mkhonto pleaded guilty in November 2023 and she was convicted of the murder. Mpumalanga National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Monica Nyuswa said Mkhonto told the court that she was in a romantic relationship with Thwala and they were residing together from January to July 2022 in Gedlembane in Pienaar.

"After realising that their relationship was volatile she left to her parental home. On 02 August 2022, Mkhonto visited the deceased in Gedlembane and an altercation between the two ensued. The deceased fell asleep and the accused took the deceased?s service pistol and fatally shot him several times while asleep in bed," she said. Nyuswa said that she then left the scene, taking the deceased?s firearm and vehicle. 

"On her way to her homestead in Masoyi, she came across a road block in Zwelisha near KaBokweni and threw away the deceased firearm which was found by the members of the public the following morning. Upon her arrival at home she then informed her friend about the crime she committed and the police were alerted. She was subsequently arrested and the state successfully opposed her release on bail," she said.

Nyuswa said that in aggravation of sentence, State Advocate Zwelethu Mata addressed the court that the accused did not show any remorse for her actions, instead she attempted to trivialise her actions by untested narratives via reports. 

"Advocate Mata objected to these reports and further highlighted that this kind of offence amounts to domestic violence and the society awaits with bated breath to see whether the court will treat female accused with soft hands, as opposed to male accused in cases of domestic violence. The Victim impact statements facilitated by Court Preparation Officer Nomfundo Mokoena, was handed in. They detailed how the loss of Thwala affected the entire family. They said, Thwala was the only person in the family who had a decent job and he financially supported his siblings and the entire family," she said.

Nyuswa said Acting Judge Sheila Msibi, remarked that the killing of a police officer is a loss to the state and the society at large.

"Msibi said law enforcement officers are servants of the law . She found that there were substantial and compelling circumstances justifying deviation from the ordained minimum sentence of life. She sentenced the accused to 20 years direct imprisonment, and was automatically declared unfit to possess a firearm in terms of Section 103 of the Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000," she said.