They described him as "a sweet man" who was blinded by anger.
A 30-YEAR-OLD Johannesburg Metro police officer, who shot his girlfriend and her friend to death in a fit of rage, enjoyed support from family, friends and colleagues who took the day off work on to attend his first court appearance.
Simphiwe Mbatha, 30, faces two charges of murder - one for the murder of Elaine Lenong (his girlfriend) - and four of attempted murder.
So concerned were his supporters that a group of about 15 people tried to follow him into the Protea Magistrate's Court's holding cells on Wednesday after he was remanded in custody.
Mbatha will spend the first two weeks of the new year behind bars before his bail application on January 14.
"We are shocked that he was arrested. He was put into this situation," said an elderly relative, who would only identify herself as "Gogo Margie".
His colleagues, all women, who quickly changed into civilian clothes after noticing the media, told Sowetan it was a known fact that Mbatha's girlfriend "gave him sleepless nights".
They described him as "a sweet man" who was blinded by anger.
It is alleged that on Saturday Mbatha used his service pistol to kidnap Lenong from her female friend's car. The friend was allegedly shot in the leg.
Metro police spokesman Senior Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said on Sunday, the girlfriend's mother, accompanied by a male friend, went to the officer's home in Bramfischerville, Soweto, where a fight allegedly broke out.
The officer allegedly opened fire on "his girlfriend" and the man said to be her "other lover".
They both died on the scene.
A five-year-old boy, who lives across the road, was shot in the leg, reportedly as Mbatha chased the other woman who was attempting to escape.
Mbatha was arrested early on Monday and stripped of his uniform, badge and service pistol, Minnaar said.
It is not yet clear what the other attempted murder charges relate to, but reports allege that Mbatha shot indiscriminately while he chased after his girlfriend. - moengk@sowetan.co.za
Support for 'killer'
They described him as "a sweet man" who was blinded by anger.
A 30-YEAR-OLD Johannesburg Metro police officer, who shot his girlfriend and her friend to death in a fit of rage, enjoyed support from family, friends and colleagues who took the day off work on to attend his first court appearance.
Simphiwe Mbatha, 30, faces two charges of murder - one for the murder of Elaine Lenong (his girlfriend) - and four of attempted murder.
So concerned were his supporters that a group of about 15 people tried to follow him into the Protea Magistrate's Court's holding cells on Wednesday after he was remanded in custody.
Mbatha will spend the first two weeks of the new year behind bars before his bail application on January 14.
"We are shocked that he was arrested. He was put into this situation," said an elderly relative, who would only identify herself as "Gogo Margie".
His colleagues, all women, who quickly changed into civilian clothes after noticing the media, told Sowetan it was a known fact that Mbatha's girlfriend "gave him sleepless nights".
They described him as "a sweet man" who was blinded by anger.
It is alleged that on Saturday Mbatha used his service pistol to kidnap Lenong from her female friend's car. The friend was allegedly shot in the leg.
Metro police spokesman Senior Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said on Sunday, the girlfriend's mother, accompanied by a male friend, went to the officer's home in Bramfischerville, Soweto, where a fight allegedly broke out.
The officer allegedly opened fire on "his girlfriend" and the man said to be her "other lover".
They both died on the scene.
A five-year-old boy, who lives across the road, was shot in the leg, reportedly as Mbatha chased the other woman who was attempting to escape.
Mbatha was arrested early on Monday and stripped of his uniform, badge and service pistol, Minnaar said.
It is not yet clear what the other attempted murder charges relate to, but reports allege that Mbatha shot indiscriminately while he chased after his girlfriend. - moengk@sowetan.co.za
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