JACOBSDAL -A 28-year-old police constable stationed at Hanover in the Northern Cape is in custody while his 25-year-old girlfriend is hospitalised with a gunshot wound following a hostage drama in Jacobsdal in the Free State. The officer was remanded in custody in Jacobsdal following his arrest yesterday in connection with the hostage drama that reportedly lasted from 11:45 until 20:25.
Lieutenant Colonel Thabo Covane, provincial spokesperson for Free State police, said the victim was transported to a hospital in Kimberley, Northern Cape, for further medical treatment. It is unclear what led to the hostage situation between the officer and his lover, a teacher.
“The officer allegedly shot her in the shoulder and held her captive for several hours before surrendering to police negotiators. Emergency medical personnel attended to the injured victim, who was subsequently transported to a hospital in Kimberley, Northern Cape, for further medical treatment,” said Covane. He said members of the SAPS at Jacobsdal police station received information about a hostage situation in Moabi Street, Ratanang Township, Jacobsdal, at approximately 11:45 yesterday.
Covane said preliminary information gathered indicated that the woman had allegedly been shot in the shoulder by the officer and that SAPS hostage negotiators managed to resolve the hostage situation. He said the team involved the Xhariep District Commissioner, Brigadier Mohiti Sereetsi, Bloemfontein Tactical Response Team (TRT), Crime Intelligence and SAPS hostage negotiators.
“SAPS hostage negotiators’ negotiations with the suspect continued for several hours. At approximately 20:25, the suspect surrendered his service pistol and handed himself over to the police without further loss of life,” said Covane. He said a case of kidnapping and attempted murder was registered at the local police station and that the officer was expected to appear before the Jacobsdal Magistrate’s Court soon facing charges of kidnapping and attempted murder.
Both the Free State Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thabang Lesia, and Sereetsi have commended the SAPS members and all role players for their professionalism and restraint in resolving the hostage situation.
