TWEELING – Police in Tweeling, Free State, have opened a murder case and an inquest docket after fatal shooting incidents involving a former couple and police members yesterday -Tuesday.
Brigadier Thandi Mbambo, provincial police spokesperson, confirmed the two incidents occurred on separate occasions. She said the murder case relates to Lona Dolly Mollo (36), who was allegedly fatally shot by her former boyfriend, Nkosana David Tshabalala (40). Tshabalala was later fatally shot during an exchange of gunfire with police officers who were tracing him in connection with Mollo’s shooting.

“An inquest docket was also registered following the subsequent fatal shooting of the suspect, Tshabalala, during an exchange of gunfire with police,” said Mbambo. She said preliminary investigations revealed that the serial number of the firearm recovered from Tshabalala had been filed off and was found to be unlicensed.

Mbambo said preliminary information indicated that Mollo boarded a white vehicle after finishing work at 17:45, unaware that her former boyfriend was already inside and had allegedly planned an attack against her. The vehicle was travelling from Reitz in the direction of Tweeling.

“When the vehicle reached 10th Street in Tweeling, the victim alighted. Shortly thereafter, Tshabalala also got out of the vehicle and allegedly grabbed her and fatally shot her in the head at close range. He then fled the scene in the direction of Reitz,” she said.

Mbambo said members of the public immediately alerted the police and provided information regarding the suspect’s movements. Two police vehicles, one from the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS) and another from Tweeling Visible Policing, pursued the suspect.

Tshabalala was subsequently spotted hitchhiking. “Members of the FCS Unit, travelling in a Mahindra vehicle and dressed in civilian clothing, stopped alongside him. The suspect approached the vehicle, believing that the occupants were offering him a lift. As he engaged with the members, the suspect noticed a second police vehicle with members in uniform, stopping behind the Mahindra. He allegedly drew a firearm and opened fire on the uniformed members, apparently unaware that the occupants of the Mahindra were also police officials. The members in the Mahindra immediately responded to the attack and the suspect was fatally wounded during the ensuing exchange of gunfire,” said Mbambo.

She said the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) will investigate the circumstances surrounding Tshabalala’s death.