An award-winning police officer was shot five times by her husband who is also a cop. The husband, who has not been named at this stage, then turned the gun on himself.
The incident happened in their home in Tzaneen, Limpopo, at the weekend and was witnessed by their three children.
Deceased Sgt Yvonne Moyana, 43, was Tzaneen cluster police spokesperson. Moyana's cousin Nicholas Ntwane told Sowetan yesterday that the family was still trying to make sense of her death.
"We spoke to each other almost every day and not once did she hint to me that she was going through problems. We spoke on Friday via WhatsApp and we exchanged greetings. She did not say anything to me hence we are shocked beyond words," he said.
According to a police officer who wished to remain anonymous, they found six cartridges on the scene.
"It looks like she was shot five times in her upper body while her husband shot himself in the head.
"We were with Yvonne on Friday during the Police Sports Day at a military base in Polokwane and she looked happy and was full of jokes as always," said the officer.
When Sowetan visited the Tzaneen police station yesterday, officers there expressed shock but refused to comment.
A friend who wished to remain anonymous said Moyana was scheduled to travel with friends on Saturday.
"She mentioned it in passing, that she'll be travelling this weekend and she wouldn't be able to attend church on Sunday," the friend said.
Provincial police spokesperson Brig Motlafela Mojapelo said: "The husband, aged 44, who was a police warrant officer attached to the provincial crime intelligence component, then turned the gun on himself."
Mojapelo said investigations will reveal how many times Moyana was shot but confirmed it was several times.
He said the couple's three children were immediately taken for trauma counselling. He added that cases of murder and an inquest have been opened.
Mojapelo said Moyana was a dedicated police officer as she received two awards in the past two years for her outstanding work. "This year she was awarded with a top police sergeant award in the province, while last year she received the Best Visible Policing Employee of the Year Award."
Ntwane said Moyana will be buried in Mkhuhlu, Mpumalanga, on Saturday.
Top cop shot 5 times by hubby
An award-winning police officer was shot five times by her husband who is also a cop. The husband, who has not been named at this stage, then turned the gun on himself.
The incident happened in their home in Tzaneen, Limpopo, at the weekend and was witnessed by their three children.
Deceased Sgt Yvonne Moyana, 43, was Tzaneen cluster police spokesperson. Moyana's cousin Nicholas Ntwane told Sowetan yesterday that the family was still trying to make sense of her death.
"We spoke to each other almost every day and not once did she hint to me that she was going through problems. We spoke on Friday via WhatsApp and we exchanged greetings. She did not say anything to me hence we are shocked beyond words," he said.
According to a police officer who wished to remain anonymous, they found six cartridges on the scene.
"It looks like she was shot five times in her upper body while her husband shot himself in the head.
"We were with Yvonne on Friday during the Police Sports Day at a military base in Polokwane and she looked happy and was full of jokes as always," said the officer.
When Sowetan visited the Tzaneen police station yesterday, officers there expressed shock but refused to comment.
A friend who wished to remain anonymous said Moyana was scheduled to travel with friends on Saturday.
"She mentioned it in passing, that she'll be travelling this weekend and she wouldn't be able to attend church on Sunday," the friend said.
Provincial police spokesperson Brig Motlafela Mojapelo said: "The husband, aged 44, who was a police warrant officer attached to the provincial crime intelligence component, then turned the gun on himself."
Mojapelo said investigations will reveal how many times Moyana was shot but confirmed it was several times.
He said the couple's three children were immediately taken for trauma counselling. He added that cases of murder and an inquest have been opened.
Mojapelo said Moyana was a dedicated police officer as she received two awards in the past two years for her outstanding work. "This year she was awarded with a top police sergeant award in the province, while last year she received the Best Visible Policing Employee of the Year Award."
Ntwane said Moyana will be buried in Mkhuhlu, Mpumalanga, on Saturday.
MEC for social development Nkakareng Rakgoale has condemned the incident.
"What disturbs and saddens me the most is that this latest incident of gender-based violence comes only two days before we observe the 16 Days of Activism for no Violence Against Women and Children. "We have been speaking out on this issue constantly, and yet we still see acts of the worst possible violence against women; and in this instance, children are now orphaned. We once again appeal to citizens to make use of our counselling and family preservation services," she said.
Provincial police commissioner Maj-Gen Nneke Ledwaba and Tzaneen cluster commander Maj-Gen Maggie Mathebula, who visited the scene of the incident, said they were also saddened by the loss of two police members under preventable circumstances.
"The SAPS has internal structures that provide assistance to its members who might be going through any strained domestic issues and members are urged to make use of these structures," said Ledwaba.