Johannesburg - Police officers should not use violence to solve their marital problems, North West Premier Thandi Modise said on Wednesday.
“Violence and firearms in particular have never been useful tools to settle domestic disputes and marital problems,” she said after a policeman wounded his wife before killing himself.
“The tragic incident, which has left us in shock, raises the question as to why the precautionary step to disarm the sergeant was not taken after his wife was granted a restraining court order,” she said.
Brigadier Thulani Ngubane said the 34-year-old sergeant's wife was on her way to the Koster police station to lay a charge of domestic violence against her husband when he stopped her.
“The suspect went to the victim's car and fired seven gunshots... at the wife,” Ngubane said.
“The wife was hit in the body. The sergeant then turned the gun to himself. He shot himself... in the head and died on the scene.”
The woman was taken to a nearby hospital.
Modise wished her a speedy recovery.
Modise said unstable and stressed police officials put their spouses, families and their colleagues at risk as the pressure they experienced tended to trigger violent reactions if psychological and counselling services were not offered. - Sapa