McKeed Kotlolo

McKeed Kotlolo

A Mpumalanga police officer, who allegedly took his family hostage at the weekend, was shot by a member of the police special task team after hours of negotiations.

Inspector Sello Morake, in his late 30s, died at the KwaMhlanga Hospital at the weekend from a stomach wound, police said.

Superintendent Malculm Mokomene of KwaMhlanga police said before his death Morake had been charged with domestic violence after he assaulted his wife and pointed a firearm at her in their home in Mandela Village, Kwamusi.

Mokomene said the family violence had worsened recently and his wife had moved out of their home to stay with her parents, taking their five-year-old daughter with her.

But on Friday afternoon he fetched the two and allegedly held them hostage. He then threatened to kill their daughter then himself at the family home.

His wifemanaged to escape and alert the police.

During the negotiations, police said Morake became aggressive and the special task team was summoned from Pretoria.

Then Morake offered to come out and talk to his wife.

"But when he came out he pointed a weapon at a member of the task force and Morake was shot. He was rushed to KwaMhlanga Hospital, where he died in the emergency room," he said.