Pinetown police say they believe that a domestic dispute is the cause for the murder and suicide of a 51-year-old man and his girlfriend .

According to Pinetown Cluster communications officer, Captain Bongumusa Manqele, the incident took place on Monday.

The man was employed as an armed response officer by Blue Security. Manqele says the incident occurred on Edgecliff Drive in Kloof.

A resident in Edgecliff Drive was in his lounge when he heard a scream and then shots being fired. He found the bodies lying on the road after hearing gunshots.

“When he looked over his wall outside, towards the road, he saw his gate open and two bodies lying in the road. He then activated the neighbourhood watch,” says Mangele.

He says the woman (46) was shot twice in her face and once in her upper left arm.

Mangele says that the suspect, who was dressed in the Blue Security uniform, had a gunshot wound to the side of his head. A 9mm Girsan pistol was found on the scene next to the bodies. A Blue Security bakkie was found parked 30m away with the driver’s door open.

“They were both declared deceased on scene,” says Manqele.

Henk van Bemmelen, chief executive officer of Blue Security, says the company is aware of a domestic dispute incident that took place on Monday involving one of their armed response officers.

“The South African Police Services are currently investigating the incident. We are awaiting further details from them to determine the exact circumstances,” says Van Bemmelen.