A Mpumalanga police officer is behind bars after he allegedly shot and killed two people with his service pistol on Sunday night, injuring another man.
Const. Bonginkosi Malinga, 38, of the Kabokweni Police Station, appeared briefly in Kabokweni Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday on two counts of murder and one attempted murder charge.
Mpumalanga police spokesman Leonard Hlathi said Malinga would remain in custody until he appeared again in the same magistrate’s court on Friday. He is expected to apply for bail on Friday.
Malinga was off duty on Sunday evening when he went to a friend’s place in Mpumalanga to visit a friend. It’s not clear if he and Goodness Mhaule, 34, were in a relationship.
According to Hlathi, a fierce conflict ensued between the three people.
Preliminary information indicates that Malinga then used his service pistol to shoot at Khoza.
Khoza died at the scene.
Mhaule tried to run away from Malinga to her parents’ house, which is close to the social area. However, he ran into her and apparently fired several shots at her. Mhaule died in a street near her parents’ home.
Her brother, whose name the police do not want to divulge, apparently tried to prevent the shooting. Malinga apparently also shot at him.
The man was taken to a nearby hospital with serious injuries.
Hlathi said police arrested Malinga shortly after the shooting and he has been in custody ever since.
Lieutenant General. Mpumalanga police chief Mondli Zuma welcomed the arrest of Malinga.
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