The Mpumalanga Division of the High Court has 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 Ka Bokweni police station. This is after 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 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 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 .

Story Credit to MDNews

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