KEY POINTS
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An Eastern Cape police officer has been arrested for allegedly fatally shooting her boyfriend during a domestic dispute.
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A similar case in the Western Cape saw a police officer arrested for allegedly killing his wife after a domestic argument.
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Both cases have raised significant public concern about police officers’ access to firearms and the need for stricter oversight in domestic violence situations.
A police officer stationed in Hogsback, Eastern Cape, has been arrested for allegedly shooting her boyfriend dead following a heated argument at their Alice residence on Saturday, May 4, 2025.
Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana confirmed the incident, stating the couple had returned from a traditional ceremony when tensions escalated. “During the altercation, it is alleged that the suspect drew her official firearm and fired a single shot, fatally wounding her boyfriend,” Gantana said. Forensic teams recovered the officer’s firearm, ammunition, and other evidence, while the case has been handed to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) for further scrutiny.
The accused officer, whose identity remains undisclosed, is set to appear in the Alice Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, May 7. “The South African Police Service reaffirms its commitment to upholding the law without fear or favour,” Gantana added, underscoring the department’s stance on accountability.
Domestic violence in law enforcement under scrutiny after second shooting
In a disturbingly similar case, a Hawks warrant officer was arrested in Khayamnandi, Stellenbosch, after allegedly killing his 41-year-old wife during a domestic dispute. IPID spokesperson Phaladi Shuping reported that the argument turned violent when the officer pursued his fleeing spouse into a neighbor’s home. “The victim ran into the neighbor’s house, but the police officer followed her inside and allegedly fired several shots in full view of residents,” Shuping stated. The woman died at the scene, prompting IPID to take over the investigation.
IOL reports that these incidents have reignited concerns about domestic violence within law enforcement. Advocacy group Soul City Institute recently highlighted that 40% of reported gender-based violence cases in South Africa involve perpetrators with state-issued firearms. Political analyst Dr. Lebo Mokoena noted, “There’s a dangerous intersection between access to weapons and power dynamics in abusive relationships—especially when the abuser is a law enforcement official.”
Community activists in Alice and Stellenbosch have organized vigils, demanding stricter psychological evaluations and regular firearm audits for officers. “How many more lives will be lost before SAPS addresses this systemic issue?” questioned Thandeka Ndlovu, founder of Women Against Police Brutality
