The High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division in Pretoria, has found 45-year-old Police Sergeant **Kate Lindiwe Hlongwane** guilty of the **premeditated murder** of her husband, **Russel Hlongwane (40)**. The tragic case has sent shockwaves through both the police community and the public, exposing the dark side of domestic disputes within law enforcement families.
Hlongwane, who served in the **Visible Policing Unit at Dube Police Station**, stood trial for the brutal killing of her husband — a father of three — after a heated argument turned deadly in January 2024.
According to evidence presented in court, the events leading up to the murder began on **27 January 2024**, when Hlongwane visited a sangoma (traditional healer) in Soshanguve, JJ. Her husband, Russel, became alarmed after noticing through the car’s tracking system that their vehicle was parked in what he considered a “high-risk” area. Suspicious, he drove to the location and found his wife consulting with the sangoma. Enraged, he ordered her to return home immediately. The couple then drove back separately to their home in Soshanguve Extension 7.
Once home, tensions flared. Russel confronted Hlongwane about the sangoma visit and allegedly told her that he would take her to his parents’ house “to learn discipline.” They began loading her belongings into their vehicle and left together. However, within hours, they returned home — and it was then that tragedy struck.
In the early hours of **28 January 2024**, Hlongwane **shot her husband multiple times** using her service pistol. The shots rang out in the quiet neighborhood, waking their domestic worker, who rushed outside to investigate. When she asked Hlongwane what had happened, the sergeant ignored her and walked away. Moments later, the worker discovered Russel lying outside the gate, bleeding profusely near a neighbor’s house. He was quickly rushed to **Akasia Hospital**, where he was later pronounced dead from his injuries.
Police arrested Hlongwane the same day, and the matter was immediately handed over to the **Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID)** for an independent inquiry. During the trial, Hlongwane pleaded not guilty, claiming that the gun had discharged accidentally during a struggle between her and her husband.
However, **Advocate Vhungani Khoza**, representing the State, presented ballistic evidence that told a very different story. Forensic experts confirmed that the gunshots were fired from a distance, directly contradicting her version of events. The prosecution argued that this proved intent — that Hlongwane had deliberately shot her husband.
In his ruling, **Judge Papi Mosopa** dismissed Hlongwane’s testimony as “unconvincing and improbable,” emphasizing that the State’s evidence was consistent and reliable. The court found her guilty of **premeditated murder**, noting that as a trained police officer, she fully understood the consequences of her actions.
Hlongwane now awaits sentencing, which has been scheduled for **1 December 2025**. The court is expected to consider the seriousness of the crime, her position as a law enforcement officer, and the devastating impact the murder has had on the couple’s three children. The case serves as a grim reminder of how personal conflicts can escalate into tragedy — even among those sworn to uphold the law.
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