Dudu Busani

Dudu Busani

She got down on her knees, raised her arms, screamed his name and begged for her life.

But, as if he hadn't heard her, he raised his gun and shot her in the head.

This was the testimony given yesterday by Kaizer Sibuyi on how his colleague, Captain Jubriel Tladi, was gunned down by her ex-boyfriend at the entrance to Vosloorus police station two years ago.

Sibuyi was testifying in the Johannesburg high court during the murder trial of Oupa Lethebe, a traffic officer and Tladi's ex-boyfriend who is charged with her murder.

Lethebe, 42, had allegedly threatened to kill Tladi numerous times after she ended their relationship.

Sibuyi, who witnessed the murder, said he was returning from attending to another case when he bumped into Lethebe and Tladi at the entrance to the police station.

"They were standing there talking. I greeted them and went inside. While inside the charge office, I heard a gunshot. I then rushed out to see what was happening.

"I saw the couple arguing. Tladi was trying to grab Lethebe, but he pushed her away.

"She bumped into a tree on her back and then slowly, she knelt, raised her arms and begged him to forgive her," Sibuyi said.

Despite Tladi's plea, Sibuyi said Lethebe drew his gun.

"I saw what was about to happen and tried to intervene. I could not reach them in time, but I shouted at Lethebe not to do what he was about to do.

"He looked at me once, slowly raised his gun and shot her in the head," he said.

Sibuyi testified Lethebe then climbed into a metro police car he had been driving, and shot himself in the head.

He was rushed to hospital where medical staff were able to save his life.

The trial continues today.