Man allegedly kills his girlfriend before taking his own life

It is alleged that Abednego Shabangu (35), a traffic officer, first shot Nompumelelo Qwabe (39) and then took his own life. According to a family friend, they had been in a relationship for about two years.

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Securicon reaction officers, task team members and EMS responded to reports of alleged shots fired in the rented flat section of a private residence in Zebra Street on Sunday at about 20:23.

The door had to be broken open to get access to the flat. When security personnel entered the house, the bodies of a man and a woman were discovered inside. Both were declared dead on the scene by Securicon paramedics.

The scene was secured and handed over to SAPS Komatipoort detectives who started further investigations.

According to information from adjacent occupants on the same property, who were socialising outside at the time, they heard an argument between the two, after which they heard a few gun shots, and alerted Securicon.

Corridor Gazette spoke to Esmè Small, a close friend of Qwabe, and said “According to the Urban Dictionary, her name means ‘A very ambitious girl; she doesn’t lose, and goes and gets it, she’s crazy by nature’. I wouldn’t describe you in any other way.

“You made everyone laugh and was always the happy girl. Your voice is silenced, your breath stolen away. But memories will always last. Until we meet again.”

Quotes on Qwabe’s Facebook page include, “Live life to the fullest, tomorrow is not promised”.

After she received her degree in May 2018, this was her post, “‘Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.’ – Mahatma Gandhi. The road to success is still under construction.”

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