Convicted serial killer and former police officer Rosemary Ndlovu has been sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment for inciting the murder of her co-accused Nomsa Mudau’s husband in a failed 2018 plot allegedly aimed at securing insurance payouts.

The Kempton Park Regional Court also sentenced Mudau to 10 years’ direct imprisonment for her role in the plot to kill her then-husband, Justice Mudau.

The sentences follow the pair’s conviction in May 2026 on the alternative charge of incitement to commit murder after the men approached to carry out the killing, alerting the intended victim instead.

While Ndlovu’s latest sentence will run concurrently with the six life sentences she is already serving, Mudau faces direct imprisonment and intends to appeal her conviction.

The matter is expected to return to court on November 3, 2026, following Mudau’s indication that she plans to challenge the conviction.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomed the sentences, saying the case demonstrated that those who plan, encourage or incite murder must be held accountable, regardless of whether the intended killing is carried out.

The latest convictions stem from a plot in which Ndlovu approached a man who had previously been involved in the murders of her family members and asked him to assist Mudau in killing her husband.

According to the NPA, further investigations led by Captain Kheswa Mabunda established that Ndlovu told the man that Mudau would contact him directly to discuss the proposed killing.

Several telephone conversations and meetings subsequently took place between Mudau and the men in Tembisa.

During these engagements, Mudau allegedly asked them to kill her husband, claiming that he was abusive and involved in extramarital affairs.

The court heard that Mudau intended to pay the men using money obtained from insurance claims following her husband’s death.

However, the plan was not carried out after the men alerted Justice Mudau to the alleged plot.

He subsequently reported the matter to the South African Police Service, leading to the arrests of Ndlovu and Mudau.

In arguments for a harsher sentence, Senior State Advocate Riana Williams told the court that the offence was particularly serious because both accused were serving police officers when the plot was hatched.

Williams argued that they had been entrusted with upholding the law and protecting members of the public but were instead involved in a plan to facilitate murder.

She further submitted that neither accused had shown remorse for their actions.

The prosecutor highlighted Mudau’s role as the wife of the intended victim, as well as her repeated communications with the men about the planned killing.

Even after one of the men stopped communicating with her, Mudau allegedly persisted and insisted that the plan proceed.

The court accepted the State’s submissions and imposed 10-year sentences on both women.

Ndlovu, who is already serving six life sentences, was convicted in 2021 for the murders of five family members and her boyfriend in crimes committed for financial gain through life insurance and funeral policy payouts.

Her latest sentence will not extend the time she serves in prison because it will run concurrently with her existing sentences.

The case adds another conviction to Ndlovu’s criminal record, which has been linked to a series of murders involving people close to her.

The NPA said the circumstances surrounding the latest case were particularly disturbing because the accused were police officers at the time of the offence.

The authority said people entrusted with enforcing the law were not above it and pledged to continue prosecuting those who abused positions of public trust to facilitate serious criminal conduct.

Mudau’s decision to appeal means the legal battle may continue as she challenges the outcome of the case.

For now, both women have been sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment for incitement to commit murder, while Ndlovu continues serving her existing life sentences.