A recently recruited police officer has been charged with murder.

The identity of the rookie is known to the Middelburg Observer, however, it can’t be revealed because he has not formally appeared in the Middelburg Magistrate’s Court.

Middelburg Observer reports that the rookie was arrested on Saturday in Mhluzi, Mpumalanga, after allegedly stabbing a man to death.

The constable completed his police training late last year and was on six months’ probation before he was due to be permanently transferred to a police station in eMalahleni on May 1.

According to reports, the incident happened at around 23:00 in Extension 8 in Mhluzi, at the victim’s home.

It is alleged that an argument over a girlfriend broke out between the constable and a man, identified as a patron at Skhosana Tavern in Extension 4.

During the altercation, the constable allegedly drew a knife and chased the man to a house in Extension 8, where the man’s uncle attempted to intervene.

Tragically, the uncle was stabbed, allegedly by the constable, and died upon arrival at the Middelburg Provincial Hospital.

Phaladi Shuping, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) spokesperson, says that IPID has taken over the docket, and the accused was due to appear in court today. The outcome of his court appearance was not known at the time of publishing.

“At the moment, we are not sure what the fight was about between the accused (SAPS member) and the other person, but the deceased is the uncle of the other person, and the uncle tried to stop the fight.”

A post-mortem exam on the deceased will be completed tomorrow.

The identity of the deceased is known to Middelburg Observer, but can’t be released until the family formally identifies him.

Belfast cop arrested

The stabbing occurred just a day after a Belfast police officer was arrested for allegedly shooting his wife.

The male sergeant (45) is from the Visible Policing Unit in Belfast.

He was scheduled to make his first court appearance in the Belfast Magistrate’s Court today on a murder charge.

The tragic incident allegedly happened in Siyathuthuka on Good Friday.

Details of the incident are not yet known. The matter was also transferred to IPID for investigation.

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