• Former police officer sentenced to 17 years for killing husband
• Evidence shows shooting fired from a distance

The High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division in Pretoria, sentenced former police sergeant Kate Lindiwe Hlongwane (47), previously attached to Dube Police Station, to 17 years in prison for the murder of her husband, Russel Hlongwane (40), father of their three children.

Evidence revealed that the incident occurred on January 27, 2024, when the accused visited a traditional sangoma in Soshanguve, while her husband tracked the family car’s location.

After a verbal confrontation at home, Hlongwane shot her husband multiple times with her service pistol, causing fatal injuries.

The victim was found lying at the front gate and transported to Akasia Hospital, where he later died.

Hlongwane was arrested on January 28, 2024, and the case was referred to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate.

During the trial, she denied the murder charge, claiming the gun discharged accidentally during a struggle, but forensic evidence proved the shots were fired from a distance, refuting her version.

Despite her request for leniency as a first-time offender and mother, the prosecution stressed the need for a deterrent sentence due to the gravity of the crime and her use of an official firearm, which escalated family tensions.

Judge Papi Mosopa noted that Hlongwane showed no remorse and did not apologize to the victim’s family, emphasizing that the sentence serves not only as punishment but also to send a clear message about resolving conflicts legally and without domestic violence.

The National Prosecuting Authority expressed support for the ruling, reaffirming its commitment to holding domestic violence perpetrators accountable regardless of rank or profession.