Sangoma dispute lands Gauteng cop behind bars for husband’s murder

Police officer Kate Lindiwe Hlongwane has been sentenced for murdering her husband after confrontation over a sangoma visit. Picture: Supplied The Gauteng police sergeant who murdered her husband over a sangoma visit dispute has been sentenced to 17 years’ direct imprisonment. Appearing in the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, Kate Lindiwe Hlongwane, 47, was sentenced for murdering 40-year-old Russel Hlongwane – the father of their three children.

The former police officer was attached to Dube Police Station under Visible Policing. According to National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana, evidence presented in court revealed that Kate had visited a sangoma on 27 January 2024. Russel was then alerted by the vehicle tracking system that the family car was in a high-risk area.

“He drove to the location and found Hlongwane consulting with the sangoma,” Mahanjana said. “He instructed her to return home, and they drove back separately to their residence in Soshanguve Extension 7.” The court heard that when the husband arrived home later that evening, he confronted his wife about her visit, and the couple started arguing. Russel told her that he would take her to his parents’ home “to learn discipline,” the court heard. Mahanjana said the couple began loading Kate’s clothes into their vehicle and drove off together.