Twin toddlers were yesterday orphaned in an argument that saw their police constable mother shot dead, allegedly at the hands of their father who then killed himself with the same weapon.The tragedy happened shortly before 7am in their Jeffreys Bay home in Strelitzia Street, about 2km from the police station.
The suspected murder-suicide comes just a day after the launch of several nationwide 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaigns.
The bodies of Simon Nkonki, an armed response officer for ADT Security, and his wife Nthabiseng, a police constable at Jeffreys Bay police station, were found inside their bedroom by the children’s live-in nanny who heard the gunshots.
The couple were both 36 years old.
While details remain sketchy, police suspect Simon shot his wife twice before turning the gun on himself.
According to officials, both had worked a night shift and had arrived home separately.
Nthabiseng’s body lay partially clothed on the one side of the bedroom while Simon was found in his ADT uniform behind the bedroom door.
Nthabiseng’s body had two gunshot wounds, one in the torso and another to the head, while Simon was shot in the head.
It is unclear whether there was a struggle and, according to police, it appears Nthabiseng’s state-issued firearm was used.
By midday, police forensic and ballistic specialists were still on the scene gathering evidence.
Officials, who cannot be named as they are not allowed to speak to the media, said the couple’s three-year-old twins were inside the house at the time of the shooting.
“The couple had a nanny looking after the children as they both worked shift duties,” one of the officers said.
“Judging from the scene, it looks like ]Nthabiseng] was getting changed and put the gun on the bed.”
Police spokeswoman Warrant Officer Gerda Swart said it appeared the couple were involved in a “heated argument” before the incident.
“Shots were heard and police were summoned to the scene. On arrival, the police found both victims with gunshot wounds. Both were declared dead on the scene,” she said.
A neighbour and off-duty police officer, Warrant Officer Gerald Dobela, 46, said he was woken by three gunshots.
“I heard the shots and jumped out of bed. The neighbour across the road went outside and drove around the block to see if he could see anything,” he said.
“A few minutes later, the nanny came running over to my house screaming. I ran into the house and that is when I saw them.”
Dobela said he took the children and their nanny to his house while they waited for the police.
Yesterday, the couple’s young sons were seen playing outside the neighbour’s house, seemingly unaware of what was happening in their home.
Nthabiseng’s aunt, Mavis Matika, arrived at the house shortly after the incident.
“I am shocked and devastated. I need to go to Uitenhage to tell her mother now,” she said in tears.
Jeffreys Bay station commander Lieutenant-Colonel Makhoasa Kiviet, who was on the scene, said: “We are all traumatised about this incident.”
Kiviet called Nthabiseng a “dedicated police official” who would be missed. — wilsong@timesmedia.co.za
Twins orphaned in dawn shooting tragedy
The tragedy happened shortly before 7am in their Jeffreys Bay home in Strelitzia Street, about 2km from the police station.
The suspected murder-suicide comes just a day after the launch of several nationwide 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaigns.
The bodies of Simon Nkonki, an armed response officer for ADT Security, and his wife Nthabiseng, a police constable at Jeffreys Bay police station, were found inside their bedroom by the children’s live-in nanny who heard the gunshots.
The couple were both 36 years old.
While details remain sketchy, police suspect Simon shot his wife twice before turning the gun on himself.
According to officials, both had worked a night shift and had arrived home separately.
Nthabiseng’s body lay partially clothed on the one side of the bedroom while Simon was found in his ADT uniform behind the bedroom door.
Nthabiseng’s body had two gunshot wounds, one in the torso and another to the head, while Simon was shot in the head.
It is unclear whether there was a struggle and, according to police, it appears Nthabiseng’s state-issued firearm was used.
By midday, police forensic and ballistic specialists were still on the scene gathering evidence.
Officials, who cannot be named as they are not allowed to speak to the media, said the couple’s three-year-old twins were inside the house at the time of the shooting.
“The couple had a nanny looking after the children as they both worked shift duties,” one of the officers said.
“Judging from the scene, it looks like ]Nthabiseng] was getting changed and put the gun on the bed.”
Police spokeswoman Warrant Officer Gerda Swart said it appeared the couple were involved in a “heated argument” before the incident.
“Shots were heard and police were summoned to the scene. On arrival, the police found both victims with gunshot wounds. Both were declared dead on the scene,” she said.
A neighbour and off-duty police officer, Warrant Officer Gerald Dobela, 46, said he was woken by three gunshots.
“I heard the shots and jumped out of bed. The neighbour across the road went outside and drove around the block to see if he could see anything,” he said.
“A few minutes later, the nanny came running over to my house screaming. I ran into the house and that is when I saw them.”
Dobela said he took the children and their nanny to his house while they waited for the police.
Yesterday, the couple’s young sons were seen playing outside the neighbour’s house, seemingly unaware of what was happening in their home.
Nthabiseng’s aunt, Mavis Matika, arrived at the house shortly after the incident.
“I am shocked and devastated. I need to go to Uitenhage to tell her mother now,” she said in tears.
Jeffreys Bay station commander Lieutenant-Colonel Makhoasa Kiviet, who was on the scene, said: “We are all traumatised about this incident.”
Kiviet called Nthabiseng a “dedicated police official” who would be missed. — wilsong@timesmedia.co.za
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