Two jailed for Harding policeman's murder
Detective Warrant Officer Andrew James Houston was gunned down in Harding on June 18, 2022.
The Port Shepstone High Court has sentenced Lwazi Fortune Dhlamini (34) to 30 years’ direct imprisonment and Lindiwe Rose Joy Cwele (41) to 20 years’ direct imprisonment for the murder of Detective Warrant Officer Andrew James Houston (51) of Harding.
The accused who were charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder made numerous court appearances, and were found guilty on June 17.
They were sentenced on June 18.
In addition, both accused were declared unfit to possess a firearm.
On June 18, 2022, Houston who was stationed at Harding Saps at the time, was ambushed and fatally shot at the intersection of Kerk and Hawkins Streets in Harding.
After the incident, a murder case was registered at Harding police station and subsequently assigned to the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit in Port Shepstone for further investigation.
An intensive investigation by the Hawks led to the arrest of Dhlamini on July 20, 2023. Further investigative work resulted in the arrest of Cwele on August 30, 2023.
The Acting Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation in KZN, Brigadier Zenobia Mulligan, welcomed the sentence and commended the investigating team for their dedication and perseverance.
“While no sentence can bring Warrant Officer Houston back, we hope this outcome brings some measure of closure to his loved ones”, said Mulligan.
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