A police captain from Bethal Police Station in Mpumalanga, aged 53, shot and killed his 39-year-old female friend before turning the gun on himself in Grootvlei on Saturday.
According to Mpumalanga police, the captain went to the woman’s house in Grootvlei and found her with her sister.
When they refused to open the door for him, he reportedly broke a window to gain entry.
Police spokesperson Colonel Mavela Masondo said, “It is said that he further chased the sister out, leaving him alone with the female friend. The sister went to seek help, and police were alerted.”
On arrival, officers found both the captain and the woman lying on the floor with gunshot wounds.
“They were both declared dead at the scene. A service pistol issued to the captain was found at the location,” Masondo added.
Police have opened a case of murder and inquest in relation to the incident.
Meanwhile, Acting Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi, expressed sorrow over the tragedy and extended his condolences to the families of both deceased.
He urged police officers to make use of Employee Health and Wellness (EHW) services when facing work- or family-related challenges.
Four weeks ago, IOL News reported that a Limpopo police couple was discovered dead inside their home Ha Thukhutha, Tshilungoma 1 village, Limpopo, with the wife fatally stabbed and lying in a pool of blood, and her husband hanged from the roof.
Limpopo police spokesperson Malesela Ledwaba said officers from Thohoyandou, under the Vhembe District, were alerted to the incident and rushed to the scene.
“Upon arrival, they found a 45-year-old female victim lying in a pool of blood with multiple stab wounds inside the house,” Ledwaba said.
During further inspection, police discovered her husband hanged from the roof of the house.
Ledwaba said the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel were summoned and certified both victims dead at the scene.
The couple were both warrant officers attached to the Thohoyandou Local Criminal Record Centre.
Limpopo provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe condemned the incident.
“The untimely death of the two members is a serious loss and a devastating blow to our organisation as well as the community at large,” Hadebe said.
She urged police officers to seek assistance from internal support structures, including Employee Health and Wellness services.
“We once more call our members to seek assistance from our relevant structures like Employee Health and Welfare to avoid this unnecessary loss of life. My condolences to the families and relatives of the departed members,” she said.
Ledwaba said police have opened a murder and inquest docket.
He said the motive remains unknown, although domestic violence has not been ruled out.
IOL News
Simon Majadibodu
iol.co.za
