Man allegedly shoots traffic officer after finding him at Mpumalanga lodge with wife

A 38-year-old man, who is said to be a City of Mbombela by-law enforcement officer, is currently in custody after allegedly killing a provincial traffic officer whom he found at Kwanyoni Lodge outside Mbombela on the N4 with his wife.

The Hawks’ provincial spokesperson, Captain Dineo Sekgotodi, says that the victim and a female friend had booked in at the lodge yesterday.

“While they were in the chalet, the woman’s husband emerged and kicked down the door. There was an alleged altercation as a broken beer bottle was discovered.

“It is further alleged that the traffic official ran out of the chalet and the husband followed him as he fired shots. The victim was shot twice and succumbed to his injuries. The suspect fled the scene,” says Sekgotodi.

Albert Gryvenstein of Bossies Community Justice was first on the scene and discovered the body.

Sekgotodi says the Hawks’ Mbombela-based Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit, Nelspruit Vispol and the Mbombela Local Criminal Record Centre also attended to the scene.

Jacques Viljoen, Kwanyoni’s owner, says, “We are fully co-operating with the authorities. Our main priority at this time is to ensure the safety and well-being of our guests and staff, as we always do. We would like to reiterate that this was an isolated incident, which has shocked us to the core. Due to the circumstances surrounding it, we could unfortunately do nothing to avoid it.

“We would like to assure our guests that safety has always been, and will forever be, our top priority. As this is an ongoing investigation, we are unable to comment further on the details of the situation.”

The suspect handed himself over to the SAPS in Mbombela. His official firearm was seized. He was charged with murder and is expected to appear in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court soon.