Cop shooting victims officially identified
The case was postponed to today for bail application.
A suspected ‘love triangle’ in the police ranks ended in tragedy after two constables were gunned down outside a home in Murchison recently.
The victims, Constable Mxolisi Lucas Hlophe (31) and Constable Shaylan Groom (24), were reportedly sitting in Hlophe’s car outside his house when Constable Ntombethemba Nozile Mgidi based at the Port Shepstone police station allegedly opened fire on them.
Hlophe and Groom were stationed at Gamalakhe police station.
Police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said a police constable (Mgidi) was arrested in connection with the murders of a fellow constable who is believed to be the father of her child, and another constable suspected to be his girlfriend at Mbayimbayi location in Murchison.
Mgidi appeared in the Port Shepstone Magistrate’s Court on two counts of murder on Monday and Tuesday this week. The case was postponed to today for bail application.
Also, investigations are currently being conducted by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID).
Hlophe’s family is traumatised. His brother, Thalibani Hlophe, said it was painful to watch his brother being shot and he could not do anything to help him, as he feared he could also be shot.
“We are devastated as a family. We are in deep pain. Even if the person behind the shooting gets bail or is sentenced, that is not going to help us as a family because it will not bring my brother back,” he said.
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