Betrayal and bloodshed: Mamelodi constable's deadly rampage linked to infidelity and paternal dispute
Infidelity and the true paternity of a child have been identified as the catalyst for the deadly murder-suicide in Mamelodi, which ended a 16-hour hostage standoff and left a police constable and his teenage nephew dead.
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Allegations around family secrets on infidelity and the true paternity of a child have been identified as the catalyst for the deadly murder-suicide in Mamelodi, which ended a 16-hour hostage standoff and left a police constable and his teenage nephew dead.
The shocking details were revealed by the constable’s uncle, Steve Mphela, who had a conversation with the police officer during the lengthy standoff.
Mphela told journalists that his nephew confessed to a devastating personal discovery. Mphela said the police constable reportedly found out that the child he had with his girlfriend was not his, but was in fact his brother's.
The immense stress of this alleged discovery, combined with the constable’s claim that his mother knew about the affair and the paternity secret, is believed to have triggered the rampage.
The family dispute in Mamelodi East began on Tuesday morning. After firing two shots, Constable Thapelo Mashigo, 32, held his 69-year-old mother and his 18-year-old nephew hostage, drawing police negotiators and the Special Task Force to the scene.
IOL reported earlier on Wednesday that the hostage drama ended in heartbreak just before midnight. After negotiators convinced Mashigo to release his mother, two gunshots were heard from inside the house. Upon entering, the Special Task Force found the constable and his nephew with gunshot wounds.
The police have opened cases of murder, kidnapping and an inquest at Mamelodi East Police Station. The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) has also been informed and will investigate the circumstances surrounding the police officer's actions.
The heartbreaking incident has left a family shattered and a community grappling with the devastating consequences of secrets and violence.
jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za
IOL News