PRETORIA – A hostage drama involving a police constable in Mamelodi East, Pretoria, ended tragically with two deaths, despite intervention by members of the SAPS. The officer, identified as Thapelo Mashigo (32), allegedly shot and killed his 18-year-old nephew before turning the gun on himself.
The police confirmed the incident ended in tragedy. The police’s Hostage Negotiators, Special Task Force members, and other units from SAPS had been at the Mamelodi East Buffer Zone from the morning of Tuesday, 9 September, trying to resolve the situation.
Brig. Brenda Muridili, national spokesperson for the police, said hostage negotiators managed to get the constable to release his 69-year-old mother from the house at about 23:00, and she was treated by paramedics on the scene before being transported to hospital.
“The police’s Hostage Negotiators were still negotiating with the police constable to surrender when two gunshots 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,” said Muridili.
According to Muridili, the hostage situation which unfolded at about 08:00 reportedly followed a family dispute. “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,” said Muridili.
She said a case of murder, kidnapping, as well as an inquest will be registered at the Mamelodi East police station and that the Independent Police Investigative Directorate will be informed.
Muridili said the deceased officer was based at the Boschkop police station and had joined the police in 2019. She said he was attached to the regional Essential Infrastructure Task Team currently.
