The South African Police Service (SAPS) is in mourning following the deaths of two female members who were fatally shot in separate incidents over the weekend.
On Saturday, the body of a 31-year-old off-duty constable stationed at the Bishop Lavis Police Station was discovered in her car in Langa.
Brigadier Novela Potelwa, a police spokesperson, confirmed the incident and stated that Directorate for Priority Crime (Hawks) investigators are currently investigating her murder.
Potelwa reports: “The 31 year old female constable who was attached to Bishop Lavis SAPS, was discovered in her vehicle close to a primary school in Bennie Street with gunshot wounds.
"When she left her home in Kraaifontein on [Friday] night after knocking off duty, she was heading to an evening church service KwaLanga.
"Directorate for Priority Crime detectives have initiated a murder investigation with no arrests effected yet.”
Sub Council Chairperson Angus Mckenzie conveyed his condolences, describing the murder of the 31-year-old officer as a deeply sad event and a significant loss to the policing family.
He said: “It is with great sadness that I have learnt of the murder of a 31-year-old female Bishop Lavis Police Officer.
"The officer, a well-liked and respected member of SAPS was off duty at the time and was found in the vehicle [Saturday] morning.
"The circumstances surrounding the murder are not known and the Hawks have instituted a full blown murder investigation.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and her colleagues and the great policing family. The killing of any officer is tantamount to terrorism and such actions require nothing less than the full might of the law brought against the perpetrators.
"We are deeply hurt and sad and mourn the loss of this well-loved Officer.”
In a separate incident on Saturday, social media users reacted with shock to footage of two women being shot in a parking lot next to the Gatesville Mosque in Athlone, allegedly with a baby in the car.
The video depicted one woman deceased outside a white VW Polo with the back door of the car open, and another woman lying nearby as bystanders looked on.
A woman is seen opening the boot of the car, taking out what a appears to be a baby blanket which she used to cover the deceased woman.
Lieutenant-Colonel Malcolm Pojie, a police spokesperson, confirmed that the deceased woman was a 35-year-old administrative clerk at the Kraaifontein SAPS and a 56-year-old woman was also wounded in the shooting and taken to a medical facility for treatment.
Pojie says: “Athlone police subsequently registered a murder and attempted murder case which will be probed by detectives attached to the Anti-Gang Unit.
"Preliminary information suggests that two armed men accosted the deceased as she and the injured woman alighted the vehicle they were travelling in.”
Authorities are urging anyone with information related to either incident to contact Crime Stop anonymously at 08600 10111 or through the MySAPS mobile application.