A POLICE officer shot dead his girlfriend at her house in Khayelitsha on Wednesday, before driving to his own home in the area, where he shot and killed himself.
Police spokesperson Andre Traut said the case was handed over to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) for further investigation.
He said the 29-year-old police officer, Sithembele Makha, had an argument and fought with his 34-year-old girlfriend before he drew his firearm and shot her.
Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union spokesperson Richard Mamabolo said the union was shocked that the officer had killed his girlfriend and himself.
“The focus of investigation will be on the circumstances surrounding the deaths,” he said, adding the officer had allegedly called his girlfriend’s sister and informed her he had shot his girlfriend.
“He further requested her to come to the house as he was going to commit suicide somewhere else.
"Upon arrival at the scene, the body of the deceased was discovered in a pool of blood, and at the same time it was heard that the member had committed suicide at his mother’s house in Harare,” said Mamabolo.
“We are against any form of violent acts, be it against police officers or any other citizen on our shores. We would want the security and safety of all residents of our country protected at all costs."