By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
A Presidential Protection Unit police officer who was being investigated for killing a woman with a state vehicle during a hit-and-run was found dead at a Umhlanga hotel in Durban.
Fullview understands the officer contacted a relative and confessed to killing 26-year-old Phumla Mtshali.
He was behind the wheel of a state vehicle when he ran over the victim on the Phoenix highway, north of Durban.
KZN police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said, “Police received reports that the 48-year-old police sergeant who was implicated in the hit-and-run incident had taken his own life.
Following the accident, the sergeant attempted to cover up the crime by reporting the state vehicle as stolen. The vehicle was later found abandoned in a sugarcane field.
Netshiunda stated: Circumstances surrounding the apparent suicide incident form part of police investigations.
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) is also investigating both the hit-and-run and the apparent suicide.
Meanwhile Police Minister, Senzo Mchunu and KZN Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi visited the Umlazi crime scene where six people were shot dead on Saturday night.
Netshiunda said reports indicate that three men were seated outside their rented accommodation “consuming alcohol” when unknown suspects arrived and opened fire at them.
“The suspects proceeded to the landlord’s house where they shot him and another man. The suspects also shot another man on the pathway. All six victims, aged between 20 and 40 years old were declared dead at the scene.
“The motive of the killings is unknown at this stage. Police are appealing to anyone who might have information regarding the incident and the possible whereabouts of the suspects to contact the nearest police station or call the crime stop number 08600 10111,” Netshiunda said.
There have been a string of shootouts between criminals and police in KZN.
At least 37 suspects have been killed by law enforcement officers over the past month, 28 of those in KZN. Since April, 68 alleged criminals have been shot by police in standoffs.