Police in the Western Cape is investigating the death of the 21-year-old constable, who died in his Parow Valley flat from an alleged gunshot wound to the head on Monday, April 19. It is alleged the officer’s lifeless body was discovered by a colleague after he left his post at the Cape Town Central Police Station earlier that day.
As reported by Daily Voice, the young officer allegedly had an argument with his girlfriend the day before, he was then allegedly deemed unfit for duty and was sent home. It is alleged that two cartridges from the constable’s pistol were found on the scene while another shot was allegedly fired into the mattress of the bed. The bullet which killed the constable was also allegedly found lodged in the bedroom door. His firearm was handed in for ballistic testing while his cellphone was sent in for analysis.
Police spokesperson Sergeant Noloyiso Rwexana, confirmed that an investigation has been opened but the officer’s identity cannot be released yet.”A death inquest has been opened for investigation after a 21-year-old constable, stationed at Cape Town Central SAPS, was found with a gunshot wound .The name of the deceased is withheld as this office is yet to receive an official confirmation that the family has been informed,”Rwexana said.
This incident follows a Bellville detective sergeant who is believed to have shot himself in his office on Tuesday, April 13. His body was discovered on the floor of his office at Commissioner House in Bellville. According to IOL, Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) spokesperson Charlton Johnson, said while there were measures put in place to help assist police officers, it all comes down to the individual.”They witness a lot of trauma, obviously all the crime scenes, and they must sit through domestic violence, and try to resolve all this stuff, “Johnson said.
Meanwhile, at least two of the more than 2,400 new police recruits who started at various police training colleges in the country last week have died within the first week of their training, Die Burger reports. One death was allegedly at Philippi Training College outside Mitchell’s Plain, and the other at the Bishop Lavis Training College, both of which are on the Cape Flats.
Picture : Cape Town Etc gallery