Policeman Who Murdered Cheating Fiancée, Friend Jailed For 30 Years

A South African police officer from KwaZulu-Natal who killed a friend and his girlfriend in a space of 24 hours has been jailed for 30 years.

Lindokuhle Sikhakhane, a Pietermaritzburg constable, pleaded guilty on Monday to the murders of his fiancée Samkeliswe Mtshali and his friend Sandile Nene.

The killings occurred on January 6 and 7, 2022.

Sikhakhane pled guilty to two charges of murder before Pietermaritzburg High Court Judge Elsja Bezuidenhout on Monday. 

In his guilty plea, which was read to the court by counsel Bongani Mbatha, the accused stated that he suspected Mtshali of being unfaithful.

He had requested Nene, a security guard and long-time acquaintance, to transport him to her house in Nqutu for a price.

He stated that he attempted to contact Mtshali on January 6, but she did not answer her phone.

Mtshali had gone home to her parent's house because she was ill.

Sikhakhane said that he grew concerned when she did not answer her phone as the time approached.

Before 11 p.m., Sikhakhane decided to phone his friend, Nene and ask him to drive him to Nquthu in his car.

He said that they had agreed that he would pay R3 000 to rent the car and fill it with fuel for the journey.

Sikhakhane disclosed that he attempted to phone his fiancée while on the road, but she did not respond.

He then called her sister and told her what was going on.

He received a text message from his fiancée informing him that she does not wish to speak with him.

He claimed he grew concerned that she was cheating and informed her that he was on his way to her house.

Sikhakhane disclosed that she then phoned him and informed him that she would not be answering his calls because she was furious that he had been pregnant with her.

However, he heard a male voice in the background and his fiancée hung up the phone.

This, he said, reinforced his suspicions that she was cheating and enraged him.

Furthermore, Nene stated that R3 000 was insufficient to hire the automobile and that the accused would have to pay R2 000 extra due to the distance.

Both engaged in an argument. 

Sikhakhane expressed his displeasure that Nene had broken the initial arrangement and requested him to pull over to the side of the road to relieve himself.

He said that as he approached the driver's side, he realized Nene had produced a pistol, resulting in a brawl.

Sikhakhane revealed that he shot Nene and then fled in his car.

While driving to Nquthu, he decided to contact a number he had located on his fiancée's smartphone a year before the event.

“The phone was answered by a male person who confirmed that he had been in a love relationship with my fiancée and he had been with her on the night of January 5, 2023.

“He also apologised to the accused for being in a love relationship with his fiancée as he was not even aware of that fact.”

Sikhakhane stated that he visited his fiancee's residence and established that she had not slept there.

He claims that when he phoned her, she denied cheating and they agreed to meet the next day in Dundee to return to Pietermaritzburg together.

The pair began fighting on the journey, so they decided to pull off under a tree.

Sikhakhane said she denied cheating and shot and murdered her when she refused to unlock her phone.

He left her there and drove to his mother's house in Ezimbubeni, where he told her of the shootings before going to SAPS and confessing to the murders.

Amanda Nontokozo Zondi, Nene's fiancée, stated in a victim impact statement presented to the court by State lawyer Mbongeni Mthembu, that she was now forced to raise their two-month-old baby alone.

“I can’t think straight. Words cannot express the anger, disappointment and loneliness that this whole ordeal has left me feeling.

“I am deeply damaged inside, thinking of the plans, the wedding Sandile and I planned to have this year.”