A member of the SAPS Mlazi Visible Policing Unit was sentenced to 10 years in prison for killing his son, but this sentence was suspended for five years by the Chatsworth Magistrate’s Court.
Warrant Officer Vincent Mkhize shot and killed his 25-year-old son, Ayanda Gift Mkhize, thinking he was a burglar trying to break into his home around 1 a.m. on December 28, 2022.
According to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), Mkhize shot with his professional gun at a suspected criminal. He realized he had shot his son after hearing him cry. Ayanda Gift Mkhize was rushed to hospital for treatment but later died from her injuries.
IPID investigated the matter, and Mkhize was charged with murder. An internal disciplinary hearing also allowed him to receive counseling. In addition to the suspended prison sentence, the court ordered that Mkhize be placed under disciplinary supervision for two years, during which he must be part of the programs decided as part of his supervision. The court also ruled that he is not eligible to own a gun.