A 41-year-old police officer, has been arrested in connection with the murder of a colleague.
The unnamed suspect allegedly accidentally shot his colleague, sergeant David Hoffman, in the head during a braai on Saturday night.
Confirming the murder and arrest, Ipid spokesperson Sontaga Seisa said: “It’s alleged that there was a braai at a private house attended by the deceased and the suspect. The pair were off-duty.
“At the braai, the suspect pulled out his service pistol, and shot dead his 40-year-old colleague. He was shot in the head. The motive for the killing is still unclear, and the Ipid investigation is continuing.”
Commenting on the incident, Western Cape Provincial police spokesperson Novela Potelwa said the suspect “accidentally” shot Sergeant Hoffman in the head.
Potelwa said: “A 40-year-old off-duty AGU member was shot and killed on Saturday night in Franschhoek in an accident that is the subject of an Ipid investigation.
“It’s alleged the deceased member was at premises in Skool Street, when a group of community members descended in a confrontational manner, but subsequently left.
“Police were called to the house, including the 41-year-old colleague of the deceased. When the shooting occurred, which claimed the life of Sergeant Hoffman, his colleague was with him. The AGU member has since been detained, and an Ipid investigation is under way.
The suspect is a leading detective whose work has led to the successful conviction in the Henri van Breda, convicted wife-killer Jason Rohde, and the murder and rape case of Stellenbosch University student Hannah Cornelius.
More: Cape Argus