Balfour Police Officer Sentenced to Life for Murder of Friend

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) has welcomed the life sentence and additional 15 years imprisonment handed down to a Balfour police officer convicted of murder and other offences.

Constable Sipho Dlamini (38), stationed at the Balfour Visible Policing (Vispol) unit, was sentenced by the Nelspruit Regional Court for the 2014 killing of Xolane Lubisi, who was his friend.

According to court evidence, on 31 April 2014, Dlamini, Lubisi, and another friend, Syco Mathe, had been drinking at a local tavern before deciding to drive to Nelspruit. Lubisi was behind the wheel, with Mathe in the passenger seat and Dlamini seated at the back.

While on the road, Dlamini fatally shot Lubisi in the head. The two men then dumped Lubisi’s body in nearby bushes and continued driving toward Ngodwane. Their journey was cut short when a traffic officer stopped the vehicle and noticed blood inside.

Mathe immediately revealed what had happened, leading police to the location where Lubisi’s body was found. The matter was referred to IPID for investigation.

Following a lengthy legal process, Dlamini was convicted of murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, defeating the ends of justice, and driving under the influence of alcohol.

He received a life sentence for murder, 15 years for robbery, five years for defeating the ends of justice, and 12 months for drunk driving.

The court ordered that the sentences run concurrently, meaning Dlamini will serve life imprisonment plus 15 years. He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm, and his driver’s licence was suspended for 12 months.

Mathe was acquitted on all charges.

IPID spokesperson Lizzy Suping said the sentencing demonstrates that no one is above the law, including members of the South African Police Service.