‘Dumped’ cop kills lover, baby then himself!

A SAMORA Machel cop in Cape Town has murdered his baby mama and his daughter (2) before turning the gun on himself.

This after the woman allegedly decided to part ways with him.

The incident happened on Wednesday, 10 April at about 7pm.

What happened

It's alleged that Constable Thembelani Lamani visited the home of his girlfriend Abona Magaba (26), with whom he had a daughter, Lihlume Magaba.

It's alleged that he knocked and entered the house, lit his cigarette and started smoking while standing in the dining room where the mother of his girlfriend was sitting.

When he was asked why he was smoking while standing inside the house, he demanded to see his girlfriend and the child.

The mother shouted at him, telling him to go and smoke outside.

He then took out a firearm and the mother ran for cover and shouted at her children to lock the door.

It's alleged that Abona wanted to leave the relationship because of the alleged abuse she suffered at the hands of her cop boyfriend.

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Shooting shocks umphakathi

When the SunTeam visited the family, they were terrified to speak about the incident.

A neighbour said they heard the shooting while they were having supper.

"We didn't go there immediately but when the shooting went quiet, that is when we went to check what was happening. We heard that when the family ran for cover, the officer shot at the door, but he didn't manage to get in. He went to the window and managed to break through and entered," said the neighbour.

She said Abona and her daughter were found hiding inside the wardrobe where he shot at them, killing them instantly. Abona's younger relative was shot and injured in the leg.

After committing the horrific crime, the officer went to his car which was parked outside and shot himself on the head and died.

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Police investigate

Western Cape police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Malcolm Pojie said two counts of murder, one of attempted murder and an inquest has been opened for investigation.

"Police in Samora Machel are probing the circumstances surrounding the death of three people which includes that of an off-duty police constable, his girlfriend (26), her one year and 11 months old daughter and a 13-year-old girl (sister of the deceased), who was wounded in the leg.

"The tragic incident happened last Wednesday, 10 April 2024 at about 7pm at Basil February Street, Samora Machel. Preliminary investigations suggest that the off-duty police constable shot his girlfriend, her daughter and wounded a 13-year-old girl in the leg, who resides at the same address. He then went to his car where he allegedly turned his service pistol on himself," said Pojie.

Pojie said the 13-year-old was transported to hospital for medical treatment while the other three were declared dead on the scene by medical personnel.