Johannesburg -
Traumatised police officers at Garsfontein police station had to receive counselling on Wednesday when news broke that one of their colleagues killed two people before turning the gun on himself.
Garsfontein station commander Colonel Solomon Govender said they were shocked after hearing the news that Constable Ali Nkuna had killed his ex-girlfriend Fenkie Tlenyane, 31, and her boyfriend Onkgopotse Motshwanedi, 29.
Govender said: “It was completely shocking. Everyone is traumatised. The other officers are now receiving counselling.”
He said Nkuna was a good officer.
“In the four years that I have worked at the station I have never seen him cross. This came as a big surprise for everyone.”
According to police spokeswoman Captain Doniah Mothutsane, Motshwanedi went to visit Tlenyane at her home in Temba on Tuesday night. As the couple were standing at the gate, Nkuna, who has a 2-year-old son with Tlenyane, arrived.
Mothutsane said her family were surprised to see her running into the house asking for help as Nkuna was chasing after her.
She ran into her bedroom with her son and locked the door.
Mothutsane said: “Nkuna was carrying a firearm and he allegedly jumped through the bedroom window where Tlenyane had locked herself inside. He shot her three times on the upper body.
“She was carrying their son at the time and one bullet struck the child on the right cheek.”
When the family went outside, they found Motshwanedi lying dead at the gate.
The boy is recovering at George Mukhari Hospital.
Nkuna then shot himself in the right side of the face and died on the scene.
Nkuna’s Mamelodi East family declined to comment, saying they were still trying to come to terms with the incident.
At Tlenyane’s home, relatives were arriving after hearing the news, but they also refused to comment or give details about Motshwanedi.
Mothutsane said police were investigating.
- The Star