Durban metro cop gets 20 years in prison for murdering ex-girlfriend

The High Court in Durban has convicted a metro police officer of killing his ex-girlfriend using his service pistol.

Ndumiso Simiso Khumalo, 31, was sentenced to 20 years behind bars for the murder of Zinhle Muthwa in 2019.

The couple ended their relationship in 2019 after Khumalo suspected Muthwa of being unfaithful.

The pair also fought over one of her male acquaintances.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said it was at this stage that he devised a plan to kill her.

In December 2019, on the night of her murder, Khumalo drove to Muthwa’s house in Pinetown in a hired car.

He was armed with his service issued-gun.

Khumalo convinced Muthwa to accompany him to the liquor store.

At some point, he shot and killed her.

ALSO READ: Jealous boyfriend arrested for the attempted murder of girlfriend

The metro police officer then drove to a secluded area near Umbumbulu and dumped her body.

During court proceedings, senior state prosecutor advocate Denardo Macdonald led ballistic evidence proving the bullet removed from Muthwa matched Khumalo’s service pistol.

The court also saw video footage proving that the vehicle used to commit the murder was hired by Khumalo.

Macdonald led testimony by Muthwa’s sister, who told the court her death had devastated their family.

While the state argued for life imprisonment, the court deviated and sentenced Khumalo to an effective 20 years imprisonment.

The court cited Khumalo’s age and the fact that he had no previous convictions as a substantive and compelling reason for the deviation.

ALSO READ: Man sentenced to 18 years after killing girlfriend with an amplifier