South African Police Officer Kills Ex-Girlfriend and Her Friend, Then Takes His Own Life

A police officer shot his ex-girlfriend and her friend before killing himself in Gqeberha.

The tragic incident has raised concerns about domestic violence and gun use by police officers.

Tragedy struck in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, as two young women Lisakhanya Labi, 21, and Monalisa Ojoni, 20 were fatally shot by an off-duty police officer who then took his own life in a suspected domestic violence incident. The victims were laid to rest over the weekend.

According to advocacy group ‘Women For Change’, the incident occurred on the evening of July 18, 2025, when 31-year-old Godfrey Tholane Seleke, a serving police officer, went to the home of his ex-girlfriend, Lisakhanya, and opened fire, killing both her and her friend Monalisa instantly. He later turned the gun on himself, dying from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Authorities have described the incident as a domestic dispute that turned deadly. Seleke and Labi had previously been in a relationship, which she had ended shortly before the attack. Witnesses and colleagues reported that Seleke had shown signs of emotional instability and growing possessiveness in the weeks before the shooting, although no official complaints were filed against him at the time.

The fact that he used his service weapon has raised concerns about firearm regulation and mental health monitoring within the police force.

Community members in Gqeberha have expressed outrage and grief. Local leader Thando Mbeki called it “a betrayal of the worst kind,” demanding accountability and reforms to prevent such incidents in the future.

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