The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Mondli Zuma, has called on SAPS members in Mpumalanga to seek for help if confronted with domestic challenges than to tackle depressing issues on their own.
The call by General Zuma comes in the wake of devastating allegations levelled against a 28-year-old female police Constable, reported to have shot a 33-year-old father of her child as well as her five months old baby girl before turning the gun to herself.
This incident of alleged matricide and pedicide, which has strongly been condemned by General Zuma, took place on Saturday 13 February 2021, at Embalenhle near Secunda.
Police as well as the medical personnel were notified about the incident and upon arrival, the woman was certified dead at the scene meanwhile her daughter as well as the father of her child were taken to a nearby clinic where the man unfortunately passed on upon arrival. The little girl though, was transferred to hospital after being stabilized but later died.
Police have since registered a case with two counts of murder and an inquest.
General Zuma said that such tragic incidents can be avoided if the affected parties sought for professional help. “In the police, we have an Employee Health and Wellness section, which specialises on the wellness of members and they offer their services without expecting payment, because those professionals, are paid by the state. I therefore urge all members to effectively make use of the EHW where they can be alleviated of any social pressures they might encounter, “said General Zuma
