Former police officer Rosemary Ndlovu, already serving six life sentences for murdering five family members and her partner, has been sentenced to an additional 10 years for inciting the murder of another person. Ndlovu and her former police colleague, Nomsa Mudau, were convicted and sentenced by the Kempton Park magistrate's court. The case stems from a 2018 plot to kill Mudau's husband, Justice Mudau.
According to NPA spokesperson Magaboke Mohlatlole, the court ordered Ndlovu's latest sentence to run concurrently with her existing six life sentences. These life sentences were for murders committed for financial gain through life insurance and funeral policy payouts. Ndlovu approached a man involved in the previous murders and asked him to help Mudau kill her husband.
Investigations led by Capt Kheswa Mabunda revealed that several telephone conversations and meetings took place between Mudau and the men in Thembisa. During these engagements, Mudau allegedly asked them to kill her husband, claiming he was abusive and involved in extramarital affairs. The court heard that Mudau intended to pay the men using insurance benefits she expected to claim after her husband's death.
However, the men alerted Justice Mudau to the plot, and he reported the matter to the police, leading to the arrests of Ndlovu and Mudau. During sentencing proceedings, senior state advocate Riana Williams argued that the offence was particularly serious because both women were serving police officers at the time and were expected to uphold the law and protect the public.
Williams also argued that neither accused had shown remorse, highlighting that Mudau had repeatedly communicated with the men about the planned killing and continued pushing for the plan to proceed even after one of them stopped communicating with her. The court accepted the state's submissions and found that the prosecution had proved the alternative charge of incitement to commit murder.
Both women were sentenced to 10 years' direct imprisonment. The NPA welcomed the latest sentences, saying people who plan, encourage or incite murder must be held accountable, regardless of whether the intended killing is carried out. Mohlatlole said the case was particularly disturbing because the accused had occupied positions of public trust as police officers.
The NPA emphasized that no person entrusted with enforcing the law is above the law. This case highlights the critical role of accountability for those in positions of public trust.
Key points
- Rosemary Ndlovu and Nomsa Mudau were sentenced to 10 years for inciting the murder of Mudau's husband in a 2018 plot.
- The accused, both former police officers, were convicted of incitement to commit murder for their roles in the plot.
- The sentences were welcomed by the NPA, which emphasized the importance of accountability for those in positions of public trust.
