The police in Mopani have opened a murder case and an inquest docket, following a tragic incident that took place in the area in which a man allegedly shot and killed his girlfriend before turning the firearm on himself. The incident took place at Namakgale Township in Phalaborwa last Friday morning at about 07:00.

Supt Moatshe Ngoepe, the spokesperson for the police in the area, said that Mr James Gumede (28) and Agnes Morema, (28) had been having a love affair for the past months. On the day of the incident, Gumede proceeded to Morema’s spaza shop near the Maphuta Malatjie Hospital.

It is alleged that, on arrival, Gumede started shouting at his girlfriend. The argument was revolving around the fact that Morema had not been present at her parents’ home when Gumede paid her a visit the previous day. Gumede accused the girlfriend of having an affair with another man.

According to the police statement, Gumede started assaulting the woman with his fists. The situation took an ugly turn when Gumede allegedly produced a firearm and shot the girlfriend in the head, killing her instantly. The police got the information that Gumede had killed his girlfriend and they proceeded to the scene.

Gumede saw the police coming from a distance and he ran away in the direction of the nearby bushes. The statement further indicates that the police chased him until he disappeared in the dense bushes. The police later heard a gunshot near the hill.

When they arrived, they found Gumede’s body lying on the grass with a bullet wound to the head. According to the police statement, the firearm which Gumede had used belongs to his employer. He was working as a gardener. The police are investigating the matter further.