Following his hit-and-run crash in which he murdered a young woman, a South African police officer committed suicide.
Colonel Robert Netshiunda, the spokesperson for KwaZulu-Natal police, acknowledged the 48-year-old officer’s passing in a statement on Monday. It is purported that he committed suicide in an uMhlanga hotel.
According to Netshiunda, the 26-year-old woman was struck by a vehicle early on Saturday morning while travelling along the Phoenix Highway.
A nearby farmer had called Reaction Unit SA (Rusa) at the time regarding a black Toyota Fortuner that was on his property.
Prem Balram of Rusa reported that the car, which had blue lights and sirens, had front-end damage.
“The license plates on the car were taken off. After turning over the licence disc information to the police, it was determined that the car had been reported stolen to the Phoenix police station’, the man stated.
According to Balram, they subsequently found out that the driver of the car had fled the area after being involved in a hit-and-run.
Phumla Mtshali was the woman who died at the site. After her family went to the Phoenix police station with the information, a case of culpable homicide was opened.
Netshiunda said the front registration plate was picked up.
“Shortly after a case of culpable homicide was registered at Phoenix police station, a Sergeant who was the last person to be in possession of the state vehicle in question went to the same police station to open a case of theft of a motor vehicle,” Netshiunda said.
He said on Monday morning police received reports that the Sergeant, who was implicated in the hit-and-run incident, had taken his own life.
“Circumstances surrounding the apparent suicide incident form part of police investigations,” Netshiunda said.
