Former Durban metro police officer admits guilt in wife's murder
Former Durban metro police officer Qiniso Thulasizwe Sishi has told the Durban High Court that he is remorseful for the fatal stabbing of his wife, Thandokuhle Mkhize-Sishi, who was an attorney.
Sishi, a former constable, pleaded guilty on Thursday to the murder, which occurred on July 25, 2025. During his plea, he offered an apology, stating: “I apologise to the entire deceased family, our neighbours, and my own family.”
However, State prosecutor advocate Rakesh Singh explicitly rejected the apology.
“We do not accept paragraph 23 (the apology); it’s something that would be argued in mitigation,” Singh emphasised, indicating the State’s stance.
In a guilty plea read to the court by his lawyer, advocate Simphiwe Mlotshwa, Sishi revealed that his relationship with his wife was marked by repeated incidents of aggression and violence by both parties. The couple had initially divorced in November 2024 and remarried in May 2025.
On the day of the incident, Sishi said he was at a tavern socialising with friends and drank four bottles of an alcoholic beverage.
He said that at that time, Thandokuhle returned home with her daughter. Shortly after, he also went to their home in Woodhaven. Before midnight, an argument erupted between Sishi and his wife.
“During the argument, I suddenly fetched a kitchen knife, which I used to inflict multiple stab wounds in the chest and abdomen of the deceased.”
He said at that stage, he intended to kill her because when family members and neighbours who heard Thandokuhle’s screams for help attempted to intervene, he prevented them from doing so.
“I prevented them from doing so by refusing them access to our home.”
Sishi admitted that he did not premeditate to kill his wife; however, he foresaw that his conduct would cause her death. “I reconciled myself with the outcome, thereby forming the necessary intention to kill her,” he stated.
After that, Sishi attempted suicide by slitting his wrists and stabbing himself in the chest, but the attempt failed, leaving him injured. Police then transported him to King Edward Hospital, where he was admitted for four nights.
Despite consuming alcohol, Sishi conceded that he understood the wrongfulness of his actions. He concluded: “I admit that I do not have a defence in relation to the deceased murder as it is unlawful.”
Following this, Judge Jacqueline Henriques convicted Sishi and adjourned the case until April for sentencing proceedings.
nomonde.zondi@inl.co.za