Key Points:
- Two Mpumalanga police officers sentenced to five years in prison after a roadblock shooting incident.
- The court ruled their sentences will run concurrently.
- A separate case involves an Eastern Cape officer who allegedly killed her boyfriend.
eMalahleni, South Africa — The court sentenced two Mpumalanga police officers to prison for attempted murder and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm after they shot a motorist who fled a roadblock.
The eMalahleni Magistrate’s Court found Sgt. Steffans Breytenbach, 39, and Sgt. Louis Venter, 40, guilty of the 2025 shooting. This ruling came after the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) conducted an investigation.
Officers Opened Fire After Traffic Stop
According to IPID spokesperson Phaladi Shuping, officers stopped a driver around 8:30 p.m. on May 11, 2025, at a roadblock. The driver tried to escape after receiving a traffic fine.
“The traffic offender was stopped at a roadblock but sped off while being issued a fine,” Shuping explained. The police gave chase and fired multiple shots when he refused to stop. As a result, the victim lost control of his vehicle and sustained injuries.
Sentences Will Run Concurrently
The court sentenced Breytenbach and Venter to five years for attempted murder. Additionally, the court gave each officer 18 months for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. However, the court ruled that the sentences will run concurrently. Therefore, the officers will serve a total of five years.
This case has sparked public debate about police use of force during law enforcement operations. The Mpumalanga police officers sentenced are expected to serve their full terms unless parole is granted.
Separate Case: Eastern Cape Officer Arrested for Boyfriend’s Death
In a separate incident, police arrested a female officer in the Eastern Cape. She allegedly shot her boyfriend during a domestic dispute.
Brig. Nobuntu Gantana, spokesperson for the provincial police, said the officer, based at Hogsback Police Station, returned from a traditional ceremony in Alice with her boyfriend on May 4. They argued at their residence.
“During the argument, the suspect drew her official firearm and fired a single shot, fatally wounding her boyfriend,” Gantana said. The victim sustained a gunshot wound to the upper body.
Police confiscated the officer’s firearm, ammunition, and other forensic evidence from the scene. The investigation is ongoing.
