POLICE have opened a murder case and an inquest docket after a man allegedly shot his wife dead before turning the gun on himself.

The incident happened at Masete village near Mecklenburg outside Burgersfort on Saturday at about 9pm.

Superintendent Mohale Ramatseba said the couple allegedly reportedly had a heated argument before the shootings.

He said the man, identified as Hans Barnard who came from Springs in Ekurhuleni, worked in one of the mines in the area.

Ramatseba said Barnard, who was in his 60s, lived in the village with his wife, Conny Mabotha, 39, of GaNkwana village in Apel.

After a quarrel Barnard allegedly drew a gun and shot Mabotha dead and then himself.

The couple were found dead yesterday morning.

"We are currently investigating the cause of the murder and subsequent suicide," Ramatseba said.

He said they were also going to investigate whether the pistol that was used in the murders was licensed.

In another incident, the Rooiberg police near Thabazimbi are looking for a 33-year-old man who allegedly assaulted his girlfriend to death during a quarrel.

The man, known only as Munei, has been on the run since Thursday last week.

He allegedly became enraged when he accompanied his girlfriend to a local clinic and found out that she was using contraceptives.

Inspector Gumani Mudzili said Munei disappeared as soon as he realised the woman, identified as Alice Nyika, had lost consciousness and died as a result of the assault.