Police unions condemn Protea Glen tragedy involving officer; call for mental health solutions
Image: File image
Police unions have condemned a shocking incident involving one of their own in Protea Glen, calling for urgent action as questions mount over violence within the ranks.
This follows a tragic incident in which a police captain allegedly shot and killed his girlfriend, a fellow officer, and her brother, wounded three others, and then turned the gun on himself at a private gathering.
According to police, the captain served as a Group Commander stationed in Hillbrow, while his girlfriend was a police sergeant with the Yeoville Detectives. The officer allegedly used his service pistol, a Z88, and six spent cartridges were recovered at the scene. Those injured were immediately rushed to Bheki Mlangeni Hospital for medical treatment.
The gathering was reportedly held to celebrate the birthday of the captain's girlfriend.
Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said witnesses at the scene reported that the captain called his girlfriend aside, and moments later, he was seen drawing a firearm.
'It is alleged that the group was at home celebrating the birthday of the captain's girlfriend, who is also a police officer. The captain reportedly called the girlfriend to the side, and that is when people saw him draw a firearm, and shoot her and her brother dead while three other civilians sustained injuries. He then turned the gun on himself.'
Nevhuhulwi added that police are investigating two counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder, and that an inquest docket has been opened at Protea police station.
The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) in Gauteng has expressed heartfelt condolences to the families affected by this tragedy, describing the incident as a stark reminder of the serious mental health challenges facing the law enforcement community.
'POPCRU has long warned about the insufficient attention paid to the psychological well-being of our members. The tragic escalation of such incidents, particularly in Gauteng, is indicative of deeper, systemic challenges.'
Richard Mamabolo, spokesperson for POPCRU, stated that mental wellness among police officers is one of the most urgent yet overlooked challenges within the criminal justice sector.
'Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), accumulated trauma from crime scenes, lack of debriefing, and personal stressors have become silent burdens, and sadly, they are now increasingly manifesting in the form of violence and suicides,' he added.
Mamabolo also emphasised that SAPS management appears to lack structured and sustainable plans to address the mental wellness of police officers. He stressed that the Employee Health and Wellness (EHW) Programme must move beyond mere box-ticking and compliance. Instead, it should be restorative, confidential, and proactive, providing support to officers before they reach a breaking point.
'We call for early detection of suicidal behaviour and interventions that promote awareness and understanding of mental health challenges,' he said.
Aligning with this stance, the South African Policing Union (SAPU) denounced all forms of violence, regardless of whether they are carried out by civilians or police officers.
Lesiba Thobakgale, spokesperson for SAPU, said that during their December 2022 National Congress, they committed to leading the fight against drugs, corruption, and gender-based violence as members of the working class.
He added that they are urging SAPS management to take employee health and wellness seriously and to improve the capacity of the professionals working within these support services.
Gauteng Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni, expressed deep sorrow over the incident and extended his heartfelt condolences to the affected families. He also urged all SAPS members to make use of Employee Health and Wellness (EHW) services to help them cope with any challenges they may be facing.
"We give our members these tools to protect themselves against criminals, so it is very disheartening to see the very same tools being used to kill their loved ones. I urge our members to make use of Employee Health and Wellness facilities to assist them in dealing with any problems they may be facing, whether work or personal. EHW is always there," he said.
The Star
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A tragic shooting involving a police captain has raised urgent questions about mental health support within the police force, following the killing of his girlfriend and her brother. Image: File image Police unions have condemned a shocking incident involving one of their own in Protea Glen, calling for urgent action as questions mount over violence within the ranks. This follows a tragic incident in which a police captain allegedly shot and killed his girlfriend, a fellow officer, and her brother, wounded three others, and then turned the gun on himself at a private gathering. According to police, the captain served as a Group Commander stationed in Hillbrow, while his girlfriend was a police sergeant with the Yeoville Detectives. The officer allegedly used his service pistol, a Z88, and six spent cartridges were recovered at the scene. Those injured were immediately rushed to Bheki Mlangeni Hospital for medical treatment. The gathering was reportedly held to celebrate the birthday of the captain's girlfriend. Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said witnesses at the scene reported that the captain called his girlfriend aside, and moments later, he was seen drawing a firearm. 'It is alleged that the group was at home celebrating the birthday of the captain's girlfriend, who is also a police officer. The captain reportedly called the girlfriend to the side, and that is when people saw him draw a firearm, and shoot her and her brother dead while three other civilians sustained injuries. He then turned the gun on himself.' Nevhuhulwi added that police are investigating two counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder, and that an inquest docket has been opened at Protea police station. The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) in Gauteng has expressed heartfelt condolences to the families affected by this tragedy, describing the incident as a stark reminder of the serious mental health challenges facing the law enforcement community. 'POPCRU has long warned about the insufficient attention paid to the psychological well-being of our members. The tragic escalation of such incidents, particularly in Gauteng, is indicative of deeper, systemic challenges.' Richard Mamabolo, spokesperson for POPCRU, stated that mental wellness among police officers is one of the most urgent yet overlooked challenges within the criminal justice sector. 'Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), accumulated trauma from crime scenes, lack of debriefing, and personal stressors have become silent burdens, and sadly, they are now increasingly manifesting in the form of violence and suicides,' he added. Mamabolo also emphasised that SAPS management appears to lack structured and sustainable plans to address the mental wellness of police officers. He stressed that the Employee Health and Wellness (EHW) Programme must move beyond mere box-ticking and compliance. Instead, it should be restorative, confidential, and proactive, providing support to officers before they reach a breaking point. 'We call for early detection of suicidal behaviour and interventions that promote awareness and understanding of mental health challenges,' he said. Aligning with this stance, the South African Policing Union (SAPU) denounced all forms of violence, regardless of whether they are carried out by civilians or police officers. Lesiba Thobakgale, spokesperson for SAPU, said that during their December 2022 National Congress, they committed to leading the fight against drugs, corruption, and gender-based violence as members of the working class. He added that they are urging SAPS management to take employee health and wellness seriously and to improve the capacity of the professionals working within these support services. Gauteng Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni, expressed deep sorrow over the incident and extended his heartfelt condolences to the affected families. He also urged all SAPS members to make use of Employee Health and Wellness (EHW) services to help them cope with any challenges they may be facing. "We give our members these tools to protect themselves against criminals, so it is very disheartening to see the very same tools being used to kill their loved ones. I urge our members to make use of Employee Health and Wellness facilities to assist them in dealing with any problems they may be facing, whether work or personal. EHW is always there," he said. The Star [email protected]
