Orphaned, missing child found

2003-04-12 18:34

Johannesburg - The eight-year-old daughter of a woman who was killed by the child's father at the Katlehong police station near Germiston on Wednesday was reported safe and well in care of the gunman's brother, police said.

Superintendent Andy Pieke said the child would stay with her uncle, a teacher at Katlehong, until a decision was made about her future.

The child's 28-year-old mother had gone to the Katlehong police station on Wednesday to report that her daughter had been kidnapped last Saturday by a 28-year-old man believed to be the girl's natural father.

Pieke said that while she was there the man arrived carrying a firearm. The investigating officer asked him to hand over the gun and when this request was refused a struggle ensued.

The man broke free and followed the woman to the client service centre where he fired two shots. One of these hit the woman in the head and the other wounded a bystander in the right arm. The gunman then ran away.

The woman died at the scene and the injured man was taken to hospital, Pieke said.

"The suspect was chased by police and about 500m from the police station he allegedly shot himself in the head. He died immediately and police found his licensed firearm next to his body." Pieke said.

- SAPA