A Port Shepstone K9 Unit officer, Sergeant Buyisiwe Jabulile Hlophe, was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment for culpable homicide and reckless endangerment to person and property in the Port Shepstone Regional Court recently.

Her whole sentence was wholly suspended for a period of five years on condition that she is not found guilty of murder, culpable homicide, assault, injury to person or property, or a competent verdict thereof, committed during the period of suspension.

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) investigated after Hlophe shot dead Sergeant Owen Sibusiso Yeni (45) of the Public Order Police (POP), and injured Sergeant Khethukuthula Hezakia Nkomo (46) of the K9 unit in Boboyi on November 3, 2024.

The court also ordered her to pay R20 000 compensation to Yeni’s wife.

At the time of the incident, six POP and two K9 officers responded to a domestic violence complaint.

IPID confirmed that the eight police officers were performing a tactical manoeuvre at a house to subdue a person allegedly involved in the domestic issue.

“They entered the premises, forced the door open and threw a stun grenade. Hlophe fired several shots at the same door and that is when Yeni was killed and Nkomo injured,” said IPID spokesperson, Phaladi Shuping.

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