Constable Lucky Sandile Maduda has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his wife, Nonkululeko Mtsweni, and a further 10 years for the attempted murder of her friend, Veronica Sithole.

The two sentences will run concurrently, meaning Maduda will effectively serve life in prison.

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) has welcomed the sentence.

“Maduda, 34, pleaded guilty to all charges during trial. The court also declared him unfit to possess a firearm,” says IPID spokesperson Lizzy Suping.

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The incident occurred on 3 October 2023, when Maduda, his wife and her colleagues were attending a birthday party at his wife’s place of employment, the Zethu Bar Lounge, in Barberton.

“An argument between the couple culminated in Maduda stabbing his wife with a broken alcohol bottle. She was certified dead at the scene and transported to a local government mortuary. Her cause of death was recorded as multiple stab injuries. Maduda also assaulted Sithole by bashing her head against a wall and stabbing her in the neck with broken bottle pieces,” says Suping.

The family of Nonkululeko Mtsweni expressed gratitude to IPID for the manner in which they handled the case and for keeping them informed of developments throughout.