BETHAL- A police constable (30) was shot dead at a restaurant in Bethal last night, June 24.
According to Brig Leonard Hlathi, Mpumalanga police spokesman, the woman’s husband who is a police sargeant stationed at Hendrina, was arrested on the scene.
The woman was employed as a constable at eMzinoni Police Station and she was apparently off duty when she was shot in what the police described as an act of gender-based violence.
The couple apparently had a heated argument earlier and the suspect allegedly hit the victim as well as fatally shooting her.
The suspect is expected to appear before the Bethal Magistrate’s Court on Monday, June 28, facing a murder charge.
Acting Provincial Commissioner, Maj-Genl Thulani Phahla, strongly condemned the incident and called on police members to seek professional help when faced with domestic challenges rather than to cowardly resolve depressing issues using their guns.
“It is unfortunate that our member has lost her life in such a manner, allegedly in the hands of a person who was supposed to have protected her and a double blow that the suspect is within our ranks.
“The police have systems in place such as the Health and Wellness programme to deal with the well-being of members and I therefore urge members to effectively make use of these services which are for free, where they can be alleviated of any social discomfort they might encounter. “
