Man kills partner in supermarket, turns gun on himself
Shopping was halted on Monday morning when a middle-aged man shot his alleged partner before turning the gun on himself.
The horrific incident happened inside Shoprite at the Burgersfort Mall at about 10:15. The deceased woman, who was an employee at the supermarket, was identified as Valencia Mnisi (30) from Ga-Manoke Village.
The guman is reportedly from the same village, and was identified as Paulos Mokwana (33), who used to work for a local hardware supplier in town.
“According to eyewitnesses, the suspect found the woman in the store busy with her duties, pulled his gun and fatally shot her. There was not much of a conversation. Everything happened in a flash,” said one of the shoppers, who was in the store.
Within seconds, terrified shoppers rushed out of the store, leaving the two in pools of blood.
The police were immediately summoned to the scene. Limpopo SAPS spokesman, Col Moatshe Ngoepe said, “It is alleged that the man arrived at the store where his partner was working and without saying anything, shot her in full view of other employees and customers. He was later found dead in the store with a gunshot wound and the firearm next to his body. Both bodies were taken by Lebowakgomo’s forensic pathologist at around 14:00.”
The Burgersfort SAPS have opened a case of murder and inquest for further investigations. Ngoepe said the motive behind this incident is not yet clear, but domestic violence cannot be ruled out.
The acting provincial commissioner of the SAPS, Maj Gen Jan Scheepers,
condemned in the strongest possible terms the continuous acts of domestic-related attacks and killings in certain areas of Limpopo.
“Members of the community are once more advised and encouraged to seek professional assistance from the local authorities for intervention rather than resorting to violence,” concluded Scheepers.
The families of both the deceased declined to comment on the incident, citing that they needed space for mourning. Both are expected to be buried this weekend at Ga-Manoke.
Steelburger/Lydenburg News contacted Shoprite head office about the incident but by the time of going to press no comment had been received.
