A 28-YEAR-OLD man who stabbed his girlfriend to death is under police guard in hospital.

Police say the suspect allegedly tried to commit suicide by stabbing himself yesterday morning.

KwaZulu-Natal police said the man was still in a critical condition yesterday.

Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Vincent Mdunge said the motive for the murder was still unknown.

"Both the man and his girlfriend worked at Boxer Cash and Carry in Pinetown.

"Apparently the boyfriend approached the store manager and asked to use his office to speak to his girlfriend. Since neither of them seemed tense the manager allowed them to," Mdunge said.

He said after a while the 28-year-old girlfriend dashed out of the office bleeding profusely.

She collapsed and died after taking a few steps.

She had been stabbed five times.

"The man then ran out of the office to the back of the store, where he used the same weapon to inflict several stab wounds on himself, but he survived. He was taken to hospital in a critical condition.

"He is under police guard and is going to face a charge of murder," Mdunge said.