A family dispute in Mamelodi East spiraled into a tense all-day hostage drama on Tuesday, ending just before midnight with the deaths of Constable Thapelo Mashigo (32) and his 18-year-old nephew.
Mashigo, a SAPS officer, allegedly held his mother and nephew hostage inside a house in Buffer Zone after firing shots earlier in the morning. Police negotiators engaged him throughout the day, eventually securing the release of his 69-year-old mother around 23:00.
Minutes later, gunfire erupted inside the home. Special Task Force members entered and found Mashigo dead, along with his nephew who had sustained gunshot wounds.
Police have opened cases of murder, kidnapping, and an inquest, with IPID notified. SAPS has confirmed Mashigo joined the service in 2019 and was deployed to the Essential Infrastructure Task Team.
The incident has left his family, colleagues, and the Mamelodi community in shock, raising concerns about domestic violence, police stress, and the urgent need for stronger support systems for officers under pressure.
