Pretoria – Police Sergeant Kate Lindiwe Hlongwane accused of fatally shooting her 40-year-old husband Russel Hlongwane has been denied bail by the Pretoria North Magistrate’s Court.
Sergeant Hlongwane, attached to the Dube Police Station, is facing a charge of premeditated murder.
Allegations were that in the early hours of 28 January 2024, the sergeant and her husband were involved in an argument at their home in Soshanguve that turned violent.
It is alleged that Sergeant Hlongwane shot her husband several times with her service pistol.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Gauteng spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said: “When the neighbour heard the gunshots, it was alleged that he came to the yard and found the deceased shot on the ground.
“He then took the deceased to Akasia Hospital, where he died a few hours later.”
Mahanjana said Sergeant Hlongwane was arrested by the South African Police Service on the same day and the case was referred to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) for investigation and handling of the case.
In court, Sergeant Hlongwane denied intentionally killing her husband instead she said the gun went off while wrestling for it with the husband.
On Friday the accused pleaded with the court to release her on bail because she was the primary caregiver of her three minor children.
However, the state opposed her bail application.
Prosecutor, Advocate Tumelo Letaoana, argued that Sergeant Hlongwane disqualified herself from the responsibility of taking care of her children.
Advocate Letaoana said the children were now in the care of her husband’s family.
The prosecutor said Sergeant Hlongwane should not be granted bail because she had committed a serious offence.
In a voice recording played in court, Sergeant Hlongwane is heard telling a friend that she was tired of her cheating husband and was now going to use her power.
The magistrate agreed with the state that it was not in the interests of justice to grant Sergeant Hlongwane bail.
Sergeant Hlongwane was remanded in custody until her next appearance on 29 April 2024.
