Tragic end to Mamelodi hostage standoff: SAPS constable and nephew found dead
Police have confirmed that 32-year-old Constable Thapelo Mashigo, who had been holding members of his family hostage inside a house in Buffer Zone, was found dead alongside his 18-year-old nephew after gunfire erupted late at night.
Image: File
What began as a family dispute in Mamelodi East on Tuesday morning escalated into an all-day hostage drama that drew in police negotiators, Special Task Force operatives, and worried neighbours – and ended in heartbreak just before midnight.
Police have confirmed that 32-year-old Constable Thapelo Mashigo, who had been holding members of his family hostage inside a house in Buffer Zone, was found dead alongside his 18-year-old nephew after gunfire erupted late at night.
The standoff started around 8 am on Tuesday when police from Mamelodi East responded to reports of a family dispute. Witnesses told officers that the constable had fired two shots before police arrived and was refusing to release his 69-year-old mother and teenage nephew.
Throughout the day, police negotiators attempted to defuse the situation. Tshwane District Commissioner Major General Samuel Thine said the constable was initially aggressive but later calmed down enough to talk.
By late evening, there were signs of progress. Brigadier Brenda Muridili, SAPS national spokesperson, said: “Hostage negotiators managed to get the constable to release his elderly mother from the house at 23:00. She was treated by paramedics on the scene before she was transported to the hospital.”
The final moments
But just before midnight, tragedy struck. “At this stage hostage negotiators were still negotiating with the police constable to surrender when two gunshot sounds were heard coming from the house. Upon entering the house, the STF members found the body of the constable. As they searched the house further, they discovered the body of the constable’s 18-year-old nephew with gunshot wounds,” said Muridili.
The police have opened cases of murder, kidnapping and an inquest at Mamelodi East Police Station. The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) will also be informed.
Who was Constable Mashigo?
Police later identified the officer as Constable Thapelo Mashigo. He had joined SAPS in 2019 and was based at Boschkop Police Station, currently deployed to the regional Essential Infrastructure Task Team.
While details of what triggered Tuesday’s violence remain unclear, the case has shocked both his colleagues and the Mamelodi community. SAPS Employee Health and Wellness officials were on the scene and continue to provide psychosocial support to both his family and fellow officers.
“SAPS Employee Health and Wellness was on the scene and will continue to provide the family and the constable’s colleagues with psychosocial support,” said Muridili.
A community in shock
As word of the standoff spread, residents gathered near the scene, some expressing frustration at the wave of violent incidents linked to family disputes and mob justice in Limpopo and Gauteng in recent weeks.
Experts say the case also highlights the mounting stress faced by frontline officers, who often juggle difficult working conditions, personal struggles, and access to firearms.
For now, Constable Mashigo’s death and that of his nephew have left a family mourning and a community grappling with questions – about violence in homes, the role of police under stress, and the need for stronger support systems to prevent such tragedies.
jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za
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