Cop shoots lover’s father and brother
Policeman kills himself in suspected family feud
Relatives of the family attacked by a police officer who killed his girlfriend’s father and brother, as well as injuring her and her mother before taking his own life, expressed shock at the incident.
Saturday’s shooting spree was executed by Ronald Maluleke, an officer who was stationed at the Haenertsburg police station near Tzaneen in Limpopo. The incident happened at Lusaka village near NkowaNkowa at about 10.30pm.
Family spokeswoman, ChristinahHomu, who is the aunt to Maluleke’s girlfriend, Bridgette Baloyi, 27, said they did not know what had sparked the shooting and were still in shock.
“The whole family is still shocked and saddened at the manner in which the attacks happened,” said Homu.
Maluleke, 39, killed 53-year-old Mishack Baloyi instantly and injured Bridgette, her mother Sylvia Masondo, 51, Bridgette’s 24-year-old brother Pegeant Masondo, before turning the gun on himself. Pegeant died the following day in hospital. The firearm was found next to Maluleke’s body.
Lieutenant-Colonel Moatshe Ngoepe said yesterday preliminary investigations had revealed that a domestic conflict was the cause of the shooting. Moatshe said they were investigating two murders and two attempted murder cases.
“We are in pain. We also wish those injured a speedy recovery,” Homu said. She added that the couple had a child. “No one in the family is employed, it will be difficult to raise the boy since his father has passed on. We only hope his mother survives to raise him,” she said.
According to the policeman’s elder brother, Lesley, his sibling lived with his girlfriend’s family in the village.
“But we are also still in the dark about what had happened. We hope investigations will reveal the truth,” he said.
Lesley said the family buried their father in Mtititi village near Malamulele two weeks ago. He added that his sister also died in August.
“We are really pained by the sad loss of family members in such a short space of time,” he added.