Wolmaransstad-based police officer, Sergeant Leepile Mtimkulu, 46, will on Friday make a second court appearance after he was arrested for the brutal murder of his girlfriend.
Earlier this week, IOL reported that Mtimkulu appeared before the Wolmaransstad Magistrate’s Court in North West for stabbing his girlfriend, Dikeledi Ingrid Serake, 40, to death.
Provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said that the incident occurred on March 8, when Mtimkulu allegedly stabbed Serake in the neck with a knife.
“The accused’s court appearance stemmed from his apprehension on March 8, in Wolmaransstad. That came after Mtimkulu allegedly stabbed his girlfriend in the neck with a knife. The victim, Dikeledi Ingrid Serake, was declared dead at the scene at Tswelelang location, Wolmaransstad,” said Mokgwabone.
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Following the brutal murder, Mtimkulu handed himself over to the police and was subsequently arrested.
Police watchdog, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) was informed and is also investigating the matter.
Meanwhile, acting provincial commissioner of police in North West, Major General Patrick Asaneng, has condemned the incident.
He added that it is disheartening to see a police officer being arrested for a gender-based violence related incident, which occurred on International Women’s Day.
Asaneng appealed to law enforcement agents to make use of professional services of the employee health and wellness section, rather than resorting to violence.
In December, IOL reported that Ipid had charged a 42-year-old Eldorado Park police officer with murder after he fatally shot his 22-year-old girlfriend.
At the time, IOL reported that the deceased woman, Chesnay Patricia Keppler, who was a member of the Gauteng Crime Prevention Wardens, colloquially known as amaPanyaza, worked with the officer at the Eldorado Park police station.
“The officer allegedly fired several shots at his 22-year-old girlfriend through the window at her residence in Eldorado Park, following a domestic dispute. After the incident, the accused officer fled the scene,” said Ipid spokesperson, Lizzy Suping.
As he was about to be arrested during the day, the disgraced police sergeant allegedly shot and injured himself.
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