The police from Mamelodi East responded to the hostage situation at about 08:00, upon interviewing witnesses it was established that there was a family dispute. Witnesses reported that the constable fired two shots before the police arrived on the scene and he was refusing to let his 69-year-old mother and 18-year-old nephew out of the house. It was ascertained later that there were only three people in the house including the constable.
Hostage negotiators managed to get the constable to release his elderly mother from the house at 23:00. She was treated by paramedics on the scene before she was transported to the hospital.
The hostage situation was resolved just before midnight, when the Special Task Force (STF) members were about to tactically penetrate the house. At this stage hostage negotiators were still negotiating with the police constable to surrender when two gunshot sounds were heard coming from the house. Upon entering the house, the STF members found the body of the constable. As they searched the house further, they discovered the body of the constable’s 18-year-old nephew with gunshot wounds.
SAPS Employee Health and Wellness was on the scene and will continue to provide the family and the constable’s colleagues with psychosocial support.
A case of murder, kidnapping as well as an inquest will be registered at the Mamelodi East Police Station. The Independent Police Investigative Directorate will be informed.
Constable Thapelo Mashigo, aged 32 years, was based at Boschkop police station and he was currently deployed at the regional Essential Infrastructure Task Team. He joined the service in 2019.
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