A woman got 20 years in jail after killing her policeman boyfriend. Images: NPA/Stock/Canva
Woman gets 20 years in jail after killing policeman boyfriend
Zanele Mkhonto has been sentenced to 20 years of direct imprisonment for the brutal murder of her boyfriend, a police officer.
A woman got 20 years in jail after killing her policeman boyfriend. Images: NPA/Stock/Canva
The High Court in Mpumalanga sentenced 30-year-old Zanele Mkhonto to 20 years of direct imprisonment for the brutal murder of her boyfriend, a police officer, Sergeant Mandlenkosi Happy Thwala, 47.
SERGEANT MANDLENKOSI THWALA WAS MURDER IN AUGUST 2022
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Regional Spokesperson Monica Nyuswa, Mkhonto pleaded guilty in November 2023 and was subsequently convicted of murder.
“She told the court that she was in a romantic relationship with the deceased and were residing together from January -July 2022 in Gedlembane, Pienaar.
“After realizing their relationship was volatile, she left for her parental home.”
Monica Nyuswa said.
‘AN ALTERCATION BETWEEN THE TWO ENSUED’
Nyuswa said on 2 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 then left the scene, taking the deceased’s firearm and vehicle. On her way to her homestead in Masoyi, she came across a roadblock in Zwelisha, near KaBokweni, and threw away the deceased firearm, which was found by the members of the public the following morning.”
SHE FATALLY SHOT HIM SEVERAL TIMES WHILE HE WAS ASLEEP IN BED
She further said that upon Mkhonto’s arrival home, she informed her friend about the crime she had committed. Someone alerted the police.
Subsequently, authorities arrested Mkhonto, and the state successfully opposed her release on bail.
Nyuswa added that in aggravation of the sentence, State Advocate Zwelethu Mata addressed the court that the accused did not show any remorse for her actions.
Instead, she attempted to trivialize her actions by untested narratives via presentence reports.
MKHONTO DID NOT SHOW ANY REMORSE FOR HER ACTIONS
Advocate Mata objected to these reports and further highlighted that this kind of offense 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 charged in cases of domestic violence.
Acting Judge Sheila Msibi remarked that the killing of a police officer is a loss to the state and the society at large.
She said law enforcement officers are servants of the law.
Msibi found substantial and compelling circumstances justifying deviation from the ordained minimum sentence of life.
