The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) has called on the South African Police Service (SAPS) to strengthen its mental health and wellness support programmes for officers, following a tragic incident involving one of its own.
A female police constable, Ntombethemba Mgidi, appeared in the Port Shepstone Magistrate’s Court on Monday, after being arrested in connection with the fatal shootings of two fellow officers in the Mbayimbayi area near Murchison on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast last week.
Both victims later died from their injuries at Murchison Hospital.
Domestic dispute
Authorities believe the attack stemmed from a domestic dispute, with one of the victims reported to be the father of Mgidi’s child.
POPCRU spokesperson Richard Mamabolo described the incident as “heartbreaking” and emphasised the psychological pressures faced by SAPS members.
“This act of violence highlights the urgent need for SAPS to intensify internal wellness and psychological support programmes that help members manage relational and emotional pressures,” said Mamabolo.
He stressed that the high-stress, high-risk nature of policing requires consistent emotional and mental health support, not just reactive measures after crises.
Can you appreciate the high level of stress that comes hand-in-hand with being police officer?
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