₦airaland Forum

A South African community is in mourning after a horrific act of violence that claimed three young lives. Lisakhanya Labi, 21, and her friend Monalisa Ojoni, 20, were laid to rest last weekend after being shot dead by an off-duty police officer, who then turned the gun on himself. Eyes Of Lagos reports,

The gunman, identified as Godfrey Tholane Seleke, 31, was a police officer with the South African Police Service. Authorities say the incident occurred on the evening of July 18, 2025, in Central, Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, and was the result of a domestic dispute that turned fatal.

Seleke, who was reportedly struggling to come to terms with the recent end of his relationship with Labi, arrived unannounced at her residence that evening. Eyewitnesses say he appeared agitated and emotionally unstable. Within moments, he opened fire, fatally shooting both Labi and her friend, Ojoni, before committing suicide with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The tragedy has sparked outrage and grief in the local community, with many questioning how such a tragedy could happen—especially at the hands of a law enforcement officer.

“This is a betrayal of the worst kind,” said Thando Mbeki, a local community leader. “We demand accountability and urgent reforms to prevent such tragedies from happening again.”

According to the advocacy group Women For Change, which issued a statement on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, the incident is part of a disturbing trend in South Africa: a country already grappling with an epidemic of gender-based violence (GBV).

The organization called the deaths “devastating and preventable,” pointing to an urgent need for reforms in mental health support, firearm access, and police oversight.

Colleagues of Seleke have since revealed that he had been acting increasingly erratic and volatile in the weeks leading up to the incident. Despite clear signs of emotional instability, no formal complaints or red flags were officially raised—raising serious concerns about systemic failures in internal monitoring and mental health evaluations within the police force.

Authorities confirmed that Seleke used his service weapon in the attack—an alarming detail that has fueled debate over the safeguarding of firearms issued to law enforcement personnel.

“We need stricter controls on officers’ access to their weapons, especially when they’re off-duty or facing emotional distress,” said a retired SAPS officer who wished to remain anonymous.

Many are also criticizing what they call a culture of silence around abusive behavior in relationships involving uniformed personnel.

“This should never have happened,” said one mourner at the funeral. “Lisakhanya was full of life. She broke up with him because she saw the danger. But even that wasn’t enough to save her.”

The tragic loss of two young women—both with dreams, futures, and families who loved them—has left a painful mark on Gqeberha and beyond. Their names now join the long list of victims of intimate partner violence, a crisis that continues to devastate South African communities.

As the country reels from this latest act of brutality, calls for action grow louder. Citizens, activists, and public figures alike are urging the government to do more to protect women and vulnerable individuals from threats—especially when those threats wear a badge.

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