Tragic murder-suicide attempt as UN soldier allegedly shoots girlfriend, then himself in DRC
His alleged girlfriend died on arrival at a hospital in Goma
A soldier in the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), deployed with the United Nations (UN) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), allegedly tried to kill himself after he is alleged to have shot and killed his girlfriend. She was also a serving soldier.
Both of them were deployed as part of 5SAI’s UN peace-keeping mission in the DRC.
Over the weekend, both soldiers were rushed to a hospital in Goma, a major city in the DRC. She was declared dead on arrival, while the man is in a critical condition in hospital.
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The motive behind the shooting is not yet known.
The name of the deceased 5SAI-UN soldier is Private Nomathemba Ngeleka, a mother of one.
“She was based at 5 South African Infantry Battalion (5SAI) in Ladysmith and joined the SA Army in 2011,” said SANDF spokesperson Brigadier Mafi Mgobozi in a statement.
Ngeleka is survived by her parents, three sisters, three brothers and her child.
“Defence and Military Veterans Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, Defence Secretary Sam Gulube and SANDF chief Lt-Gen Solly Shoke expressed their heartfelt condolences to family, friends and loved ones of the deceased,” Mgobozi said.
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