Justice Served: Husband and Accomplice Sentenced in Policewoman Murder

In a landmark ruling that resonates deeply with South Africa's ongoing battle against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Femicide, the Pretoria High Court in Benoni delivered a sentence of considerable magnitude for the culprits behind the brutal murder of police officer Constable Prudence Masuku. The sentencing occurred on Friday, 23 August 2024, cementing a case that shook the community and highlighted the risks faced by women, even those in law enforcement.

Constable Masuku, seven months pregnant at the time, was callously gunned down on June 23, 2022, in Putfontein while on her way to her duty station at the Daveyton SAPS, with her husband, James Veli Masuku, as her tragic companion. The investigation, spearheaded by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team, revealed disturbing details. Ballistic analysis confirmed that it was her own service weapon that inflicted the deadly wounds.

The fabrication woven by Veli Masuku, that unknown attackers from two separate taxis unleashed a hail of bullets upon them, was quickly unraveled. His account of events stated he had evaded the gunfire, only to return to a horrific scene and a missing firearm. However, the dedication of the Hawks, Ekurhuleni Crime Intelligence, and the JMPD brought the perpetrators to justice. Information regarding a suspect demanding payment for the execution led to the arrest of Xolani Lawrence Dlamini, Masuku's accomplice.

Back-and-forth in the court proceeded until the chilling conclusion on April 8, 2024, when both Masuku and Dlamini were found guilty on all counts, despite their plea of innocence. The comprehensive list of charges included murder, theft of a firearm, illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, and defeating the administration of justice.

The sentences dealt were multifaceted:

- Murder received the steepest sentence of 25 years, symbolic of life imprisonment.

- Theft of a firearm and illegal possession of a firearm each carried a decade-long sentence.

- Possession of unlicensed ammunition and defeating the administration of justice each warranted a five-year term.

For an efficient and practical administration of punishment, counts two through four would run concurrently with the life sentence, effectively translating to a 30-year incarceration period for the duo. Additionally, the court stripped Masuku and Dlamini of any right to carry firearms in the future.

Major General Ebrahim Kadwa, the Provincial Head of the Hawks in Gauteng, expressed strong approval of the sentences. The meticulous work by both investigators and prosecution was, in his eyes, emblematic of the rigorous law enforcement required to face down South Africa's GBV crisis. The hope is that this sentencing will echo as a deterrent to others, proving that justice will prevail for victims like Constable Masuku.