Gauteng Police Officer Jailed 17 Years For Husband’s Murder In Soshanguve

A Gauteng police officer will spend the next 17 years behind bars after being convicted of killing her husband in Soshanguve.

The North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria sentenced 47-year-old Sergeant Kate Lindiwe Hlongwane to direct imprisonment for the premeditated murder of her husband, 40-year-old Russel Hlongwane. The couple shared three children.

Hlongwane was attached to the visible policing unit at Dube police station in Pretoria at the time of the incident.

Police Officer Uses Service Pistol Used in Fatal Shooting in Soshanguve

According to National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Gauteng spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana, the events unfolded on 27 January 2024.

Hlongwane had travelled to Soshanguve Block JJ to consult a sangoma. Her husband became aware that the family vehicle had entered what was flagged as a high-risk area after receiving a notification from the car’s tracking system.

“Her husband was alerted by the vehicle tracker that the family car was in a high-risk area. He then drove to the location and found Hlongwane consulting with the sangoma,” said Mahanjana.

“He instructed her to return home, and they each drove back in separate vehicles to their residence in Soshanguve Extension 7.”

Later that evening, Russel confronted his wife about the visit, leading to a heated exchange. During the argument, he told her he would take her to his parents’ home so that she would “learn discipline”.

The pair began packing her clothes into a vehicle and left the property together. In the early hours of the morning, they returned.

Moments later, Hlongwane fired multiple shots at her husband using her official service firearm.

A domestic worker employed by the family heard the vehicle pull in and then the gunfire.

“She then met the policewoman, who ignored her when she asked about her husband’s whereabouts,” said Mahanjana.

“The helper continued to search and found the deceased lying on the ground outside their gate, bleeding profusely next to a neighbour’s house. A neighbour, who also heard the gunshots, rushed the victim to Akasia Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.”

Hlongwane was arrested the following day. The matter was handed to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) for investigation.

Ballistics Evidence Disproves ‘Accidental Discharge’ Claim

During trial proceedings, the police officer pleaded not guilty. She maintained that the firearm went off accidentally during a struggle with her husband.

However, the State challenged her version of events.

Advocate Vhungani Khoza presented expert ballistic testimony indicating that the shots were fired from a distance. The specialist, trained in wound analysis and distance determination, concluded that the evidence did not support Hlongwane’s claim of a close-range struggle. The court found that the State had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.

In mitigation of sentence, Hlongwane’s legal team asked the court to show mercy, citing her clean criminal record, her role as a mother to three minor children and the time she had already spent in custody.

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Khoza argued that a firm sentence was necessary, submitting that Hlongwane had shown no remorse and had committed a serious act of domestic violence — a crime that remains widespread in South Africa. He further emphasised that she had used her service weapon as a trained officer to shoot her husband multiple times.

The court also heard that the killing caused significant strain between the two families, with Hlongwane’s relatives not attending Russel’s funeral.

Judge Papi Mosopa, in delivering judgment, found that Hlongwane had not demonstrated remorse, noting that she had failed to apologise to the deceased’s family even after her conviction.

While the court imposed a sentence below the prescribed minimum, Judge Mosopa stated that the punishment must serve both as retribution and as a warning that disputes must be handled lawfully and respectfully, without resorting to violence.