The Kempton Park Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday sentenced former police officers Rosemary Ndlovu and Nomsa Mudau to 10 years’ direct imprisonment each after finding them guilty of incitement to commit murder, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has announced.
The case relates to a 2018 plot to kill Mudau’s now ex-husband, Justice Mudau. Ndlovu, who is already serving six life sentences for the murders of five family members and her partner, will serve her latest 10-year sentence concurrently with her existing sentences.
Both Ndlovu and Mudau were police officers at the time.
Plot to kill Mudau’s husband
According to the NPA spokesperson Magaboke Mohlatlole, Ndlovu approached a man who had previously been involved in the murders of her family members and asked him to assist Mudau in killing her husband.
Mohlatlole said investigations led by Captain Kheswa Mabunda revealed that Ndlovu informed the man that Mudau would contact him directly to discuss the planned killing.
Several telephone conversations and meetings subsequently took place between Mudau and the men in Tembisa. During these engagements, Mudau allegedly requested that they kill her husband, claiming that he was abusive and involved in extramarital affairs.
The court further heard that Mudau intended to pay the men using insurance benefits she expected to receive following her husband’s death.
Intended victim alerted police
The men eventually informed Justice Mudau about the plot, prompting him to report the matter to the South African Police Service (SAPS).
The report led to the arrest of Ndlovu and Mudau and the subsequent prosecution of the two former police officers.
Ndlovu was previously convicted and sentenced in November 2021 to six life terms for the murders of five family members and her partner. Those killings were committed for financial gain through life insurance and funeral policy payouts.
During sentencing proceedings, Senior State Advocate Riana Williams argued that the offence was particularly serious because both accused were serving police officers at the time.
Williams told the court that the two women had been entrusted with upholding the law and protecting members of the public, making their alleged involvement in a murder plot especially concerning.
She also argued that neither accused had shown remorse.
The prosecutor highlighted Mudau’s repeated communication with the men about the planned killing, adding that she continued to pursue the plan even after one of the men stopped communicating with her.
Court upholds State’s arguments
The court accepted the State’s submissions and found that the prosecution had successfully proved the alternative charge of incitement to commit murder.
Both women were sentenced to 10 years’ direct imprisonment. The court ordered that Ndlovu’s latest sentence run concurrently with the sentences she is already serving.
The NPA welcomed the sentence, saying it demonstrated that those who plan, encourage or incite the murder of another person would be held accountable, regardless of whether the intended killing is ultimately carried out.
The authority said the case was particularly disturbing because the women were police officers at the time of the offence, holding positions that required them to uphold the law and protect the public.
“No person entrusted with enforcing the law is above the law,” the NPA said.
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