Mapaballo Borotho
- A Gauteng police officer, Zakhele Hlongwane, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of his wife, Tili Ngobeni.
- He shot her multiple times in front of their young children before handing himself over to the police.
- The judge ruled there were no compelling reasons for leniency, saying Hlongwane had betrayed his duty as a law enforcer and as a father.
A Gauteng police traffic officer, Zakhele Hlongwane, has been sentenced to life imprisonment and an additional seven years by the Pretoria High Court for the murder of his wife, Tili Ngobeni.
The 53-year-old was handed life for premeditated murder, five years for pointing a firearm, and two years for malicious property damage. The sentences will run concurrently, and he has been declared unfit to possess a firearm.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson in Gauteng, Lumka Mahanjana, said the crime occurred on 1 April 2024 when Hlongwane went to Ngobeni’s home in Mamelodi. He broke open her bedroom door and shot her multiple times in the presence of their five- and three-year-old children.
“After the deceased’s cousin heard gunshots and came out of his room, Hlongwane pointed a firearm at him before leaving the scene. About an hour later, he handed himself over to the Mamelodi Police Station. The NPA successfully opposed his bail, and he has been in custody since,” said Mahanjana.
During the court proceedings, Hlongwane pleaded guilty, claiming he was emotionally overwhelmed and did not plan to brutally murder the mother of his children.
His lawyer asked the court to impose a lesser sentence, arguing that he was a first-time offender, had shown remorse, and had written apology letters to Ngobeni’s family and the community.
However, State Advocate Vusimuzi Tshabalala argued that Hlongwane’s apologies were expressions of regret rather than true remorse, as they came only after conviction.
Tshabalala emphasised that as a police officer, husband, and father, Hlongwane had a duty to uphold the law and protect his family.
He further stressed that femicide remains a deeply entrenched issue in South Africa and that no anger or emotional turmoil can justify such violence.
Delivering judgment, Judge Mashudu Munzhelele agreed with the State, citing that Hlongwane showed no genuine remorse and had committed an extremely brutal act against the person he was meant to love and protect.
“As a law enforcement official, he was expected to uphold the law and not violate it as he did. Imposing a lesser sentence would undermine the severity of this offence,” the Judge said.
The court found no substantial or compelling circumstances to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence, confirming life imprisonment for Hlongwane.
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