Hostage drama cop critical

2009-01-11 18:14

Johannesburg - A police constable shot in the face by a hostage taker in Sebokeng was in a critical but stable condition at the Clinix hospital in the area, Vaal police said on Sunday afternoon.

Constable Jabu Molefe, 30, was shot on Sunday morning when he and other officers arrived at a house in Sebokeng following a suicide report, said Inspector Kinnie Steyn.

"After shooting constable Molefe, the man got back into the house and shot dead his 24-year-old girlfriend," she said.

With his girlfriend gunned down, the man, also aged 30, ran from his house into one of the houses a few blocks away and held a woman hostage.

"It is not known why he went to that particular house, but he held the woman hostage for three hours," Steyn said.

It was only at 11:50 that the man emerged from the house with his hostage and turned the gun on himself.

The 51-year-old was "very traumatised" and she received counselling at the scene.

- SAPA