Residents from Samora Machel are terrified after a police officer killed his girlfriend and their two-year-old baby. He then turned to his head and killed himself inside his car. On Wednesday 10 April around 7pm, Constable Thembelani Lamani visited the home of his baby mama Abona Magaba(26) in Basel February Street.
On arrival, it is alleged that he entered and started smoking his cigarette while standing in the dining room where Abona’s mother was sitting. When she questioned him about his behaviour of smoking while standing in her dining room, he demanded to see his baby mama. When the mother ordered him to leave but he pulled a gun out of his pocket. 
The mother screamed asking everyone, including Abona to lock the doors. The officer charged towards the door where his girlfriend was, but the door was already locked. He alleged started shooting as he was trying to break the door. After he failed to break the door, he rushed outside the house, and went to shoot the window of Abona’s room, breaking it. He managed to enter through the window and searched for Abona whom he found hiding inside the wardrobe. He shot and killed Abona and their daughter Lihlume. He went to his car that was parked outside, he sat and shot himself on the head and died.
Residents who spoke Ezitshisayo said Abona had dumped the cop, but he didn’t accept that there was no love anymore. It is alleged that before killing her, a few months back, the officer broke Abona’s work laptop and her phone accusing her of cheating. “The cop didn’t take it that Abona didn’t want the relationship anymore. He wanted to own her but she didn’t allow that to happen that’s why he killed her,” said a neighbour who didn’t want to be named.
“The tragic incident happened last night, Wednesday, 10 April 2024 at about 19:00 at Basil February Street, Samora Machel. Preliminary investigation suggests 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 a 13-year-old was transported to hospital for medical treatment whilst the other three were declared dead on the scene by medical personnel who attended to the scene.