Mbombela (formerly Nelspruit) – Cop Killer 29-year-old Zanele Mkhonto, who pleaded guilty to the 2022 murder of her police officer boyfriend, is now serving a long prison sentence.
Earlier this month she was sentenced to 20 years in prison for the crime.
During her trial, the court heard that a 45-year-old police sergeant, Mandlenkosi Happy Thwala, was killed in the night on 2 August 2022 in Gedlembane, Pienaar.
Police investigations linked the accused, who was Sergeant Thwala’s girlfriend, to the murder.
Mkhonto was arrested and charged on 10 August 2022.
She appeared at Kanyamazane Magistrates’ Court, in Mpumalanga, on the same day and was remanded in custody.
Revealing the outcome of the court case, Hawks spokesperson in Mpumalanga Captain Dineo Sekgotodi on Friday said the murder accused Mkhonto was sentenced to 20 years in prison by the Mbombela High Court on 4 April 2024.
Commenting on the sentence, Mpumlanga Head of the Hawks, Major General Nicholas Jacobus Gerber, applauded the investigating officer and the prosecution authorities for their collaboration during the investigation of this case.
Major General Gerber encouraged the public to keep on providing information to the police regarding criminal activities in their area s.
He said that all information received will be treated with confidentiality.
