KEY POINTS
- Sergeant Leepile Mtimkulu received his arrest after he fatally stabbed his girlfriend Dikeledi Ingrid Serake.
- Sergeant Mtimkulu gave himself to police authorities following the incident before their quick arrest.
- Ipid conducts the case investigation while the police commissioner issued a condemnation of this act.
Sergeant Leepile Mtimkulu of Wolmaransstad based police will return to court for a second hearing on Friday after his arrest for the murder of his girlfriend Dikeledi Ingrid Serake through knife stabbing. The victim was 40 years old when she lost her life.
Details of the incident
The stabbing occurred at Tswelelang location within Wolmaransstad on March 8 when Mtimkulu used a knife to dead Dikeledi Serake according to police statement by Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone. Medical personnel declared her death at the crime location.
Panjabati Mtimkulu surrendered himself to police authorities before his prompt arrest took place.
Separate from the main investigation the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) takes responsibility for this case.
Condemnation from police leadership
Major General Patrick Asaneng from the North West provincial command strongly denounced this murder because it occurred on the day recognized for women.
The police official expressed his unwelcome view about law enforcement officers being involved in gender-based violence cases while suggesting officers should obtain professional help instead of resorting to violent actions.
Union members should turn to Employee Health and Wellness professionals instead of using violence since we promote this service as police officers according to Major General Patrick Asaneng.
Prior to the present scenario multiple events showed police officers engaging in domestic violence.
A murder case reported in December shows parallels to this current incident because a 42-year-old Eldorado Park police officer killed his 22-year-old girlfriend Chesnay Patricia Keppler.
According to Ipid spokesperson Lizzy Suping the officer engaged in a domestic disagreement that led him to fire several shots at Keppler’s house and run away from the scene.
Law enforcement authorities caught up with him before his attempted suicide which involved firing a weapon into his body.
Court proceedings and next steps
The next appearance of the Police sergeant in court at the Wolmaransstad Magistrate’s Court for Mtimkulu is set for Friday during his second court hearing.
The authorities from North West police and Ipid maintain active monitoring of this case investigation which remains in progress.
