A female police officer from the Botlokwa police station in Limpopo was apprehended on Thursday at around 10 p after she allegedly shot and killed her son and his girlfriend during a dispute.

DOUBLE MURDER

Following the incident, the police were called to the scene by the suspect, who recounted the events that occurred at her residence after a heated argument with her son. Police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said upon their arrival, accompanied by paramedics, the police discovered the cop's 25-year-old son unresponsive with gunshot wounds, clutching a sharp object in his hand. "A 16-year-old girl who was also shot sustained serious injuries and was immediately transported to the local hospital for medical attention. She succumbed to her injuries on Friday in the hospital," Ledwaba said. The police opened two cases of murder, leading to the immediate arrest of the suspect. Ledwaba added that further police investigations will determine the detailed circumstances that led to the incident. The case is being handled by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate. The suspect is scheduled to appear in the Morebeng Magistrate's Court on Monday, 17 February 2025.

OFFICERS ARRESTED FOR ATTEMPTING TO STEAL EXHIBITS

In a separate incident in Modjadjiskloof, near Tzaneen, three police officers, aged 37, 47, and 50, were arrested and charged with housebreaking, theft, and malicious damage to property after they allegedly unlawfully entered the station storeroom and stole cigarettes that were part of a criminal case. It is reported that on 20 March 2024, the officer responsible for the storeroom received a call from one of the on-duty officers, informing her that the storeroom had been opened and that the three suspects were inside. "She was surprised because she knew that when she left, it was locked, and she had the keys. When she reported for duty the next week, the store clerk, together with the station commander, inspected the storeroom and found it locked with a small padlock. After a short while, one of the suspects, who was a senior member, reported that on that day he saw the two other officials loading the cigarettes inside the police van, and he informed them to offload them and claimed that they complied," Ledwaba said. A case was opened, and investigations were conducted, leading to the three police officials being charged with housebreaking with intent to steal, theft, and malicious property damage. The officers will appear in the Tzaneen Magistrates Court on 4 April.