Pretoria – A 69-year-old woman has been rescued from a hostage situation in Mamelodi, Tshwane, after hours of being held against her will by her police constable son.
The 16-hour drama, which began in the morning on Tuesday, 9 September 2025, ended in tragedy.
The police officer, identified as 32-year-old Constable Thapelo Mashigo, allegedly fatally shot his 18-year-old nephew before he turned the gun on himself.
Narrating events that led to the tragedy, police spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili said: “The police from Mamelodi East responded to the hostage situation at about 08:00.
“Upon interviewing witnesses, it was established that there was a family dispute.
“Witnesses reported that the constable fired two shots before the police arrived on the scene, and he was refusing to let his 69-year-old mother and 18-year-old nephew out of the house.
“It was ascertained later that there were only three people in the house, including the constable.”
Brigadier Brenda Muridili said hostage negotiators managed to get the constable to release his elderly mother from the house at 23:00.
“She was treated by paramedics on the scene before she was transported to the hospital,” said Brigadier Muridili.
The hostage situation was resolved just before midnight, when the Special Task Force (STF) members were about to tactically penetrate the house.
“At this stage, hostage negotiators were still negotiating with the police constable to surrender when two gunshot sounds were heard coming from the house,” the police spokesperson said.
“Upon entering the house, the STF members found the body of the constable.
“As they searched the house further, they discovered the body of the constable’s 18-year-old nephew with gunshot wounds.”
The South African Police Service Employee Health and Wellness was on the scene and will continue to provide the family and the constable’s colleagues with psychosocial support.
A case of murder, kidnapping, as well as an inquest, will be registered at the Mamelodi East Police Station.
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate will be informed.
Constable Mashigo was based at Boschkop Police Station, and he was currently deployed to the regional Essential Infrastructure Task Team.
He joined the Service in 2019.
