A 30-year-old police officer received a 20-year prison term for an acid attack that killed her partner, Nomalungelo Khumalo. The High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division in Johannesburg, imposed 15 years for murder and five years for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. The sentences will run consecutively. This ruling cements a firm police officer acid attack sentence in a case that shocked many.
Night of The Attack
The couple returned home with a friend after a party on 27 February 2023. An argument erupted. The officer threw acid on Khumalo, causing severe burns. The friend, asleep on a nearby couch, was also injured, according to both outlets. Khumalo was rushed to hospital and died on 3 March 2023. Sunday World adds that the officer tried to hide evidence by discarding the acid container and removing the damaged couch.
Judge Rejects Leniency Bid
Prosecutors argued the act was brutal and unprovoked. Senior State Advocate Rachel Kau called Khumalo’s mother, who described the anguish of seeing her daughter’s injuries. The defence asked for five years under correctional supervision. The court refused. It ruled that the gravity of the crime warranted an effective 20-year term — a decisive police officer acid attack sentence.
‘Full Might of The Law’
The National Prosecuting Authority welcomed the ruling.
“The killing of women by their intimate partners can never be normalised. Perpetrators of such heinous acts must face the full might of the law,” NPA spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said.
The case highlights South Africa’s ongoing fight against gender-based violence and the courts’ readiness to enforce tough penalties for intimate partner attacks. For many, this police officer acid attack sentence signals accountability — and a warning to would-be offenders.
