Gauteng traffic officer murder accused awaits Legal Aid application and indictment
Zakhele Bennet Hlongwane is facing charges of the premeditated murder of his wife, as well as of pointing a firearm and housebreaking with intent to murder.
The case of a Gauteng traffic officer from Mamelodi accused of killing his wife, Tili Desire Ngobeni (33), was postponed to February 18.
Zakhele Bennet Hlongwane (53) briefly appeared at Mamelodi Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday. His case was postponed for Legal Aid application and indictment.
Senior prosecutor Advocate Anne-Marie Bendeman said the accused will remain in police custody.
Hlongwane is facing charges of the premeditated murder of his wife, as well as of pointing a firearm and housebreaking with intent to murder.
He was denied bail on July 19, 2024.
On April 1 last year, at around 05:00, the accused allegedly went to Ngobeni’s residence in Mamelodi.
On arrival, Hlongwane broke open the door and shot Ngobeni multiple times in the presence of their five- and three-year-old children.
Ngobeni’s brother heard the gunshots, came outside to investigate, and the accused pointed a firearm at him.
An hour later, Hlongwane handed himself over to the Mamelodi police and has been in custody since.
In court, Hlongwane asked to be released on bail because, while he had an opportunity to flee after committing the offences, he had handed himself over to the police.
He also said he needed to take care of his 15-year-old daughter and feared that criminals would continue to vandalise his residence in his absence.
State prosecutor Tshilidzi Mugeri opposed the bail application, saying the accused knew the witnesses; therefore, granting him bail would endanger their lives, and that the court had the duty and responsibility to ensure their safety.
Mugeri also said the court should take into consideration the prevalence of this kind of offence, as South Africa has a notably high rate of femicide cases.
Furthermore, he said the court should ensure that such murderers are not granted bail.
Magistrate Mlombo ruled that she believed the state had a strong case against the accused and that his minor daughter being affected by his incarceration wasn’t exceptional.
She said the fact that the accused had handed himself over to police wasn’t exceptional either, but rather the right thing to do.
Mlombo also found there was a likelihood that Hlongwane would evade trial because, if he is found guilty, the prescribed minimum sentence would be life imprisonment.
She added that the accused failed to convince the court that exceptional circumstances exist and that it was in the interest of justice to warrant his release on bail.
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