Traffic officer accused of killing wife abandons bail

The accused allegedly shot and killed the deceased with his service pistol on April 1.

April 3, 2024

Stephen Selaluke 1 minute read

Different organisations protesting outside the Mamelodi Magistrate’s Court.

A 53-year-old traffic police officer accused of shooting and killing his 33-year-old wife in front of her two children abandoned bail on Wednesday, April 3.

The accused briefly appeared at Mamelodi Magistrate’s Court facing charges of murder, premeditated murder, housebreaking and pointing of a firearm.

Senior prosecutor Advocate Anne-Marie Bendeman said the accused allegedly shot his wife four to five times on April 1 around 04:50 in front of her two children, using his service pistol firearm.

Bendeman said the accused allegedly used his service pistol. He handed himself over to the police the same day.

He abandoned his bail application and the case was moved to June 5.

Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo also confirmed these details.

“The suspect handed himself to the police at Mamelodi East,” said Mavela.

While members of the community stood in solidarity with the family, the family’s spokesperson Johanna Ngobeni, the aunt of the deceased, said they were devastated about the woman’s murder,

Community members and organisations from Mamelodi protested outside the court with mixed feelings about the case. Some demanded the court not to grant him bail while others said no bail for the accused.

Protesters outside the court had mixed feelings about the case, some for and others against the accused getting bail.

EFF convenor Terry Maboa said gender-based violence (GBV) perpetrators must be permanently removed from society.

He said it was about time the justice system brought the death penalty for murderers.

“Law enforcement officers must leave their service pistols at their place of work and sign for them when going to serve the community,” said Maboa.

He said these firearms are now used to kill innocent children.

A resident, Happy Mawelele, said GBV was not adequately addressed in their community.

Angry protesters outside the court pleading with for the accused not to be granted bail.

*Please note that the article has been amended”

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