Two separate shooting incidents which left three people dead and one critically wounded rocked the seaside resort of Hamburg at the weekend.
In the first incident on Friday, construction business owner Johannes “Toppie” Bezuidenhout, 56, shot and killed his wife Louise, 52, in their holiday home in Hamburg, 90km from East London, before turning the gun on himself.
A second shooting took place in the early hours of Saturday morning when Eastern Cape police Constable Andile Gxamza, 33, shot his girlfriend Constable Khanyisa Ngxata, 34, three times before turning the gun on himself at Wesley village near Hamburg.
Miraculously Ngxata survived despite being shot in her stomach and leg and is being treated in hospital. Family members said she was in a critical condition.
Eastern Cape police confirmed both incidents, saying the cases were the subject of criminal investigations.
Friday’s shooting took place just after 1pm at a lavish double-storey holiday house belonging to Bezuidenhout. At the time of the incident there were no other people in the house.
The couple – who were reportedly in the process of divorcing – were often seen around the community over weekends and during the December holidays.
It is alleged that Louise, who lives in East London, had gone to collect her personal effects from the holiday home when she was confronted by Bezuidenhout.
Provincial police spokeswoman Brigadier Marinda Mills said the couple quarrelled and shots were fired. Both died at the scene.
Neighbours who heard screams followed by gunshots alerted police.
“Earlier that morning ordered his security employee to take an early day off as he wanted to be alone,” said a neighbour, who declined to give his name.
“The wife arrived and started looking for casual workers to assist her in packing all her clothes in her car; came out and chased the guys away.
“What followed was tragic,” the neighbour said.
A few hours later and some seven kilometres away, Gxamza got into an argument with his long-time girlfriend Ngxata.
Eyewitness Wandisile Ncanywa said the argument took place at 1am on Saturday outside the policewoman’s house.
Ncanywa – who witnessed the incident through his bedroom window – said: “The argument got so heated the boyfriend withdrew a gun and started shooting at her before blowing his brains out. I think he thought she was dead.”
Ngxata was saved by her nightshift colleagues, who were patrolling the area at the time.
“When I saw a police van I rushed outside. They immediately called the ambulance. They kept on talking to her to keep her alive until the ambulance arrived,” said Ncanywa.
Mills said both constables were based at Bell police station near Hamburg where they served as crime prevention officers.
The Daily Dispatch visited both shooting scenes yesterday.
The Bezuidenhout household was a hive of activity with family members seen clearing out the house.
A man who only identified himself as a “nephew” of the deceased said it had been a hard time for the family and they were not ready to comment on the incident.
Ngxata’s sister Nosipho said she had visited her in a private hospital in East London where she was in a critical condition.
“The doctors are saying that her intestines were damaged by the bullet. My sister is in a lot of pain and we have been asked to limit our visits,” Ngxata said, adding she was still in the dark over what had caused the couple to quarrel.
Provincial police expressed concern over both incidents, saying couples should seek professional counseling when they had problems.
“As far as police are concerned we understand the circumstances. The members work in a very stressful environment, they are faced with negativity and violence every day, but for that we have our employee wellness programmes designed to assist our members in such difficult circumstances,” Mills said. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
Shootings rock Hamburg
In the first incident on Friday, construction business owner Johannes “Toppie” Bezuidenhout, 56, shot and killed his wife Louise, 52, in their holiday home in Hamburg, 90km from East London, before turning the gun on himself.
A second shooting took place in the early hours of Saturday morning when Eastern Cape police Constable Andile Gxamza, 33, shot his girlfriend Constable Khanyisa Ngxata, 34, three times before turning the gun on himself at Wesley village near Hamburg.
Miraculously Ngxata survived despite being shot in her stomach and leg and is being treated in hospital. Family members said she was in a critical condition.
Eastern Cape police confirmed both incidents, saying the cases were the subject of criminal investigations.
Friday’s shooting took place just after 1pm at a lavish double-storey holiday house belonging to Bezuidenhout. At the time of the incident there were no other people in the house.
The couple – who were reportedly in the process of divorcing – were often seen around the community over weekends and during the December holidays.
It is alleged that Louise, who lives in East London, had gone to collect her personal effects from the holiday home when she was confronted by Bezuidenhout.
Provincial police spokeswoman Brigadier Marinda Mills said the couple quarrelled and shots were fired. Both died at the scene.
Neighbours who heard screams followed by gunshots alerted police.
“Earlier that morning ordered his security employee to take an early day off as he wanted to be alone,” said a neighbour, who declined to give his name.
“The wife arrived and started looking for casual workers to assist her in packing all her clothes in her car; came out and chased the guys away.
“What followed was tragic,” the neighbour said.
A few hours later and some seven kilometres away, Gxamza got into an argument with his long-time girlfriend Ngxata.
Eyewitness Wandisile Ncanywa said the argument took place at 1am on Saturday outside the policewoman’s house.
Ncanywa – who witnessed the incident through his bedroom window – said: “The argument got so heated the boyfriend withdrew a gun and started shooting at her before blowing his brains out. I think he thought she was dead.”
Ngxata was saved by her nightshift colleagues, who were patrolling the area at the time.
“When I saw a police van I rushed outside. They immediately called the ambulance. They kept on talking to her to keep her alive until the ambulance arrived,” said Ncanywa.
Mills said both constables were based at Bell police station near Hamburg where they served as crime prevention officers.
The Daily Dispatch visited both shooting scenes yesterday.
The Bezuidenhout household was a hive of activity with family members seen clearing out the house.
A man who only identified himself as a “nephew” of the deceased said it had been a hard time for the family and they were not ready to comment on the incident.
Ngxata’s sister Nosipho said she had visited her in a private hospital in East London where she was in a critical condition.
“The doctors are saying that her intestines were damaged by the bullet. My sister is in a lot of pain and we have been asked to limit our visits,” Ngxata said, adding she was still in the dark over what had caused the couple to quarrel.
Provincial police expressed concern over both incidents, saying couples should seek professional counseling when they had problems.
“As far as police are concerned we understand the circumstances. The members work in a very stressful environment, they are faced with negativity and violence every day, but for that we have our employee wellness programmes designed to assist our members in such difficult circumstances,” Mills said. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
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