A 30-year-old policeman killed his wife and kept his son hostage for several hours, threatening to kill him and then commit suicide.

The incident, which has left the peaceful and closely knit rural community of Tshififi-Makononi outside Thohoyandou in a state of shock, happened on Sunday evening, when the wife was shot dead, but the policeman held his son hostage till 13:00 the following day.

The hostage drama, which resembled a Hollywood movie, drew people from as far as Ha-Tshisele and other surrounding villages who had to walk many kilometres on foot to reach the scene as all roads were impassable. Even police 4 x 4 vehicles could not make it to the scene, as others had already made it impossible because they had driven across the muddy road.

A family member of the suspect, Eunice Mahodze, said Eric Mamida, who is stationed at Mahamba Point of Entry in Mpumalanga, is believed to have arrived back from work on Friday. She said he had told the family that he was having problems with his wife, whereupon the family sat together to try and defuse the tension. “We tried our best to resolve their differences, but we ultimately could not reach consensus on the matter. It was decided that Mamida should take his belongings and leave his wife alone,” she said.

Mahodze said she had believed that Madima was satisfied with the decision taken during the family meeting. “He visited me on Saturday and we had a good time together. He did not show any signs of stress when he left for his home.”

She said she was horrified when she arrived at the scene of the hostage incident after being called by the police. The allegation is that he had some problems with his wife, who has since been identified as Thivhonali Mugwedi (28), around the paternity of the baby the woman, who was eight months pregnant, was carrying. The man had accused his wife of infidelity after discovering certain evidence on her phone. The policeman then allegedly raised the matter with the family, who tried to resolve it but could not reach an amicable solution.

On Sunday, Mamida is alleged to have embarked on a drinking spree and, on returning home, was involved in an argument with his wife. The argument is believed to have escalated and ended when the wife was shot dead.

The Limpopo police spokesperson in Vhembe, Captain Mashudu Malelo, said the hostage drama unfolded at 05:00 on Monday morning when police were summoned to the scene by a family member, who told them about the incident. He said that, on arrival, the police were fired at by the suspect and the vehicle they were using was slightly damaged, but no member of the police was injured. Police called for reinforcements and a team of negotiators after realizing that the suspect would not surrender and was threatening to shoot the boy he was holding hostage and also to commit suicide.

“Our members did a splendid job, even though it took several hours to convince him to surrender, but we are extremely happy that no further life was lost and he did not commit suicide. He will now have to answer for his actions,” said Malelo.