By Teboho Moloi
FREE STATE — A police constable allegedly shot a 25-year old woman in the shoulder before holding her hostage for eight hours in a house in Ratanang Township, Jacobsdal, on Sunday.
The 28-year old constable, who is stationed in Hanover in the Northern Cape, eventually surrendered his service pistol and handed himself over to police after prolonged negotiations.
Free State Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Thabang Lesia commended police and other emergency role players for bringing the volatile hostage situation to a peaceful end without further loss of life.
The incident began at about 11:45 when police were alerted that the woman was being held hostage at a house on Moabi Street.
Xhariep District Commissioner Brigadier Mohiti Sereetsi immediately mobilised the Bloemfontein Tactical Response Team (TRT), Crime Intelligence, SAPS hostage negotiators and other relevant role players.
According to police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Thabo Covane, preliminary information indicated that the victim had allegedly been shot in the shoulder by the suspect.
“Negotiations with the suspect continued for several hours until at approximately 20:25, the suspect surrendered his service pistol and handed himself over to the police without further loss of life,” Covane said.
Emergency medical personnel treated the injured woman before she was transported to a hospital in Kimberley, Northern Cape, for further medical treatment.
The nature of the relationship between the suspect and the victim remains unclear, although police confirmed that a case of kidnapping and attempted murder has been registered.
Lesia said the successful resolution demonstrated the importance of patience, professional hostage negotiation and a coordinated multidisciplinary response when dealing with potentially life-threatening situations.
“I commend our hostage negotiators, Tactical Response Team, Crime Intelligence, the Xhariep District management and all other role players who worked tirelessly to bring the situation to a peaceful conclusion,” Lesia said.
He said the priority throughout the operation was the preservation of life.
“We also wish the injured victim a speedy recovery. At the same time, the suspect will face the full might of the law, and the circumstances surrounding this incident will be thoroughly investigated.
Our members are equally subject to the law, and any allegations of criminal conduct will be dealt with through due process,” Lesia said.
