Rustenburg - A 33-year-old man allegedly beat his girlfriend to death and later turned a gun on himself at Nkaneng informal settlement near Marikana on Saturday, North West police said.
Colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said the man allegedly beat his girlfriend to death with an iron rod at the informal settlement's Sangoma section in the early hours of Saturday.
He said the woman was found dead in one of the shacks.
“The matter was reported to the police who attended the scene. Police launched a manhunt with the assistance of the community after being informed that the suspect was hiding in the area,” he said.
“The suspect shot and killed himself on arrival of the police at the shack where he was hiding.”
He said the motive of the incident was unknown at this stage but it seemed to be a domestic dispute.
“The case is not linked to the current mine strike in the platinum belt. Investigation into the matter continues,” he said.
Members of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) at Lonmin, Impala and Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) have been on strike since January 23 demanding a basic monthly salary of R12 500.
They rejected the companies' offer that would bring their cash remuneration to R12 500 by July 2017.
The strike now on its 128th day, has been marred by violence and intimidation.
The strike has cost the companies R20.4 billion in revenue and the employees have lost R9,1 bn in earnings according to website, platinumwagenegotiations.co.za created by the companies. - Sapa