Katlego Moeng

Katlego Moeng

The woman who was taken hostage by a man who murdered his girlfriend and wounded a policeman says it is going to be hard to forget the ordeal.

"I was ready to accept any eventuality. I had prayed and had surrendered," she said.

The man held a gun to Sarafina Molothale's head and told her that she would only be safe if the police did not do anything "stupid".

"He had his arm around my neck in a vice-grip manner and held his gun to the side of my head, while shouting at the police not to come near," she said.

Molothale survived the ordeal when Tshepo Mokhele shot himself dead.

"He told me to look to the side and then there was a loud bang. I jumped away as he fell to the ground," said Molothale

Mokhele allegedly killed his long-time girlfriend at his home on Sunday and then shot Evaton police officer Constable PA Molefe in the face, critically wounding him.

After killing his lover at about 7am and shooting Molefe, who was called to the scene by neighbours, Mokhele ran down the street and into Molothale's yard.

"I was woken by the loud bangs. I thought it was kids playing with fireworks," Molothale said.

She said when she went outside at about 8am, just after checking on her sick son, Mokhele grabbed her.

"He told me that he did not want to hurt me but just wanted to shield himself from the police.

"He said he did not want the police to shoot him but wanted to commit suicide," Molothale said.

"Tshepo is a child who grew up in front of me. I know his family and he had gone to the same high school as my eldest son ."

She said before shooting himself Mokhele asked her to pray for him and asked that she and her children forgive him for his actions.