Mamelodi hostage standoff ends in murder-suicide after 16 hours. Image credit: News24
(The Post News)- A 16-hour hostage standoff in Mamelodi East, Tshwane, ended in tragedy when a police constable shot dead his teenage nephew before taking his own life in the early hours of Wednsaday, 10 September 2025 morning.
Gauteng police spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili confirmed that the constable’s mother, who had been held hostage since the ordeal began on Tuesday morning, was freed around 23:00pm. She was taken to hospital for treatment and trauma counselling.
Tshwane District Commander, Major General Samuel Thine, said the officer, identified as Thapelo Mashego (32), allegedly died by suicide just before 01:00am as members of the SAPS Special Task Force prepared to storm the house. “As members of the Special Task Force were about to enter, two shots rang out inside.
“Mashego killed his 18-year-old nephew and then himself,” Thine reported.
He added that it was unclear exactly when the teenager had been shot. “The teenager sustained gunshot wounds. Further details will be confirmed after investigations,” said Thine.
Police Speak to Mashego’s Uncle
Police reported that Mashego, who was off duty at the time, had fired at least four shots between 07:00am and midnight on Tuesday. A family dispute is believed to have been at the centre of the standoff.
Mashego’s uncle, Steve Mphela, revealed that tensions escalated after the constable accused his fiancée of infidelity with both his elder brother and a police colleague. In a voice note sent to Mphela during the negotiations, Mashego also expressed suspicions that the child he had raised as his own was in fact his brother’s.
Police have opened cases of murder, kidnapping, and discharging a firearm, along with an inquest docket.
“This is a deeply disturbing incident,” said Thine.
Thine added that they tried by all means to protect lives during the 16-hour standoff. “Such cases can be avoided. There is help for distressed officers, and we encourage our members to use health and wellness resources,” he concluded.
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