Pretoria – A hostage situation in Mamelodi East ended tragically on Tuesday night, leaving a police constable and his 18-year-old nephew dead.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) confirmed that the incident stemmed from a family dispute.
A statement said that officers responded to the scene at approximately 08:00. Witnesses reported that Constable Thapelo Mashigo, 32, fired two shots prior to police arrival and was refusing to allow his 69-year-old mother and nephew to leave the house.
Subsequent investigation revealed that only three people were inside the home: Mashigo, his mother, and his nephew.
Hostage negotiators succeeded in securing the release of Mashigo’s elderly mother around 23:00. She received treatment from paramedics on-site before being transported to a hospital for further care.
Update: Mamelodi East Hostage Incident – Pretoria.@SAPoliceService
The police from Mamelodi East responded to the hostage situation at about 08:00, upon interviewing witnesses it was established that there was a family dispute.
Witnesses reported that the constable fired…
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) September 10, 2025
“The hostage situation was resolved just before midnight, when the Special Task Force (STF) members were about to tactically penetrate the house. At this stage hostage negotiators were still negotiating with the police constable to surrender when two gunshot sounds were heard coming from the house,” the statement read.
“Upon entering the house, the STF members found the body of the constable. As they searched the house further, they discovered the body of the constable’s 18-year-old nephew with gunshot wounds.”
SAPS Employee Health and Wellness personnel were present at the scene and will continue providing psychosocial support to the family and colleagues affected by the incident.
A case of murder, kidnapping, and an inquest has been opened at the Mamelodi East Police Station, and the Independent Police Investigative Directorate will be informed of the deaths.
Constable Mashigo, who joined the Service in 2019, was based at Boschkop Police Station and was deployed to the regional Essential Infrastructure Task Team at the time of the incident.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
