A KwaZulu-Natal police officer has been convicted of murder after a heartbreaking incident in which he fatally shot his own son, mistaking him for a burglar at their family home.

The Chatsworth Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday found Warrant Officer Vincent Mkhize (46) guilty of murder following the December 2022 shooting that claimed the life of his 25-year-old son, Ayanda Gift Mkhize.

The court ruled that, despite the tragic circumstances, Mkhize acted recklessly and unlawfully when he opened fire without properly identifying his target.

According to court testimony, the incident occurred in the early hours of 28 December 2022, when Mkhize, who was off duty at the time, heard noises coming from the front of his home in Umlazi. Believing it was an intruder attempting to break in, he armed himself with his service pistol and went to investigate.

Mkhize told the court that the sound “felt like someone was forcing open the burglar gate.” Acting on instinct, he fired two shots toward the door. Moments later, he heard his son’s desperate cries identifying himself.

“I heard him scream, ‘Baba, it’s me!’ but it was already too late,” Mkhize said during his testimony, visibly emotional.

Ayanda was struck twice and collapsed near the entrance. Together with his wife, a nurse, Mkhize attempted to provide first aid before rushing his son to Isipingo Hospital, where he later died of his injuries.

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) opened an investigation into the shooting, which was later referred to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). The NPA decided to charge Mkhize with murder, arguing that he had failed to follow firearm safety protocols expected of a trained police officer.

Delivering judgment, Magistrate Ravi Naidoo said Mkhize’s actions demonstrated “gross negligence and disregard for basic firearm safety principles.” The court ruled that the shooting could not be classified as an accident under the law because Mkhize did not verify the source of the noise before pulling the trigger.

The matter has been postponed to 2 December 2025 for sentencing, and Mkhize’s bail was extended pending the outcome.
The conviction has reignited debate about responsible firearm ownership, even among trained officers.,

“Under the Firearms Control Act, a gun owner is legally required to keep their firearm unloaded, locked in a safe, and inaccessible to others,” said Dr Stanley Maphosa, Executive Director of Gun Free South Africa. “The law provides for prosecution under Section 120 for negligent handling of a firearm that results in injury or death. Every gun owner carries a moral and legal duty of care.”

Community members in Umlazi described the Mkhize family as “quiet and respectable,” saying the tragedy has deeply affected them.

“He was a good father and a good cop, this was a terrible mistake,” said one neighbour, who asked not to be named.

While the case has evoked public sympathy, it also highlights the delicate balance between self-defence and responsible firearm use.

Legal experts note that South African law places a heavy burden on gun owners to ensure that their actions, even in moments of panic, do not endanger innocent lives.

As Warrant Officer Mkhize awaits sentencing, the case serves as a sobering reminder that a single lapse in judgment can have irreversible consequences, even for those trained to protect others.