A man who killed a Cape Town police officer will spend 20 years behind bars. Mpumzile Nompetsheni (33) was sentenced on 24 July 2026 in the Bluedowns Regional Court after being found guilty of police murder and defeating the ends of justice.

Police killer gets 20 years

The Hawks’ Provincial Head, Major General Makgato, has expressed his gratitude to the collaborative efforts between the Hawks and the National Prosecuting Authority. He says this ensured that justice is served following this gruesome crime.

Collaborative efforts between the Hawks and the NPA

The Hawks’ Lieutenant Colonel Siyabulela Vukubi explains how the sentence was handed down.

Count 1: Murder of SAPS member: Fifteen (15) years direct imprisonment.
Count 3: Defeating the ends of justice: Five (5) years imprisonment. He was, however, found not guilty on count two, rape.

Vukubi says the accused will effectively serve twenty (20) years direct imprisonment. The convict was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.

Convicted and sentenced

It was reported that during October 2023, the deceased, Constable Asavela Mathe, was socialising with her colleague in Mfuleni. The brother of Constable Mathe’s colleague, Mpumzile Nompetsheni, was with them. There were reports to indicate that Mpumzile and the deceased had become close.

It’s said that one thing led to another, and an argument broke out between the two. It was then that he subsequently assaulted her to death in the absence of his sister, who had temporarily stepped out. On her return, she noticed that her colleague had died.

“It was during this ordeal that the accused disposed of the body, which was later discovered in the nearby vicinity,”  added Vukubi.