Rosemary Ndlovu, co-accused, both get 10 years for murder plot

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Opens in new windowOpens in new windowEnter fullscreen mode displaying this image.ExpandRosemary Ndlovu and co-accused get 10 years for murder plot and Ndlovu’s latest sentence will run concurrently with the six life sentences she is already serving. Picture: Veli Nhlapo Story audio is generated using AI

Former police officer Rosemary Ndlovu, who is serving six life sentences for murdering five family members and her partner, has been sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment for inciting the murder of another person.

Ndlovu and her former police colleague Nomsa Mudau were sentenced by the Kempton Park magistrate’s court on Wednesday after being convicted of incitement to commit murder for a 2018 plot to kill Mudau’s husband, Justice Mudau.

NPA spokesperson Magaboke Mohlatlole said the court ordered Ndlovu’s latest sentence to run concurrently with the six life sentences she is already serving. Those sentences were for murders committed for financial gain through life insurance and funeral policy payouts.

In respect of the latest sentence, the case stems from a plot in which Ndlovu approached a man who had previously been involved in the murders of her family members and asked him to help Mudau kill her husband.

Investigations led by Capt Kheswa Mabunda revealed that Ndlovu told 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 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. 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. She highlighted 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.

“No person entrusted with enforcing the law is above the law,” the NPA said.

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