Everson Luhanga
The extraordinary trial of the serial murderer Rosemary Ndlovu ended on Friday when the former policewoman was given multiple life sentences that will put her in jail for the rest of her life.
Ndlovu now faces six life terms for six murders. She has also been sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for each 14 other counts, including of incitement to commit murder, as well as 10 years for the attempted murder of her mother. She was also sentenced to an additional five years for defrauding insurance companies.
Despite the severity of the sentencing, Ndlovu took time to warn witnesses.
“Wena, aunt, you will celebrate Christmas while I’m in jail this year. But next year, I will celebrate it with you. I was not born in jail,” she said while being ushered to the cells.
The marathon trial saw 80 witnesses testify about her serial murders, and attempted murders, of relatives for insurance cash.
Ndlovu was convicted in October of the murders of her cousin Madala Witness Homu, nephews Brilliant Mashego and Mayeni Mashaba, sister Audrey Ndlovu, niece Zanele Motha and boyfriend Maurice Mabasa.
During the arguments in mitigation of sentence, Ndlovu broke down and told the court she loved the people she killed.
Ndlovu maintained her innocence until the end.
On Friday, she looked worried from the beginning of the court proceedings as she waited for Judge Ramarumo Monama to hand down the sentences.
In her favourite floral dress and high heel black shoes, Ndlovu kept looking directly at the judge while he described how she orchestrated the murders of her relatives.
Monama stressed the sentencing was “to inform the families of the victims and the public because they are all stakeholders in this matter which, I must add, has attracted a lot of media attention.
“The reason there is a lot of media attention in this case is because in the last 89 years, this country has not observed a similar situation such as your case.”
Five victims also took the stand on Friday, as well as a criminologist who described Ndlovu as a dangerous person who should be kept behind bars.
Ndlovu asked to serve her sentence at the Johannesburg Correctional services and not Kgosi Mampuru prison, saying that it will allow her family members to visit her without spending a lot on travelling fares.
Judge Monama replied that she was being insensitive as one of the old ladies had to travel to Limpopo to visit the grave of her dead son.
