The City of Cape Town’s Safety and Security Directorate has lost another one of its own, after a law enforcement officer turned his gun on himself at the Bishop Lavis armoury this afternoon.
The officer — who is believed to be aged in his 30s — had apparently been experiencing problems in his personal life which led to his suicide. The City’s Law Enforcement spokesperson Wayne Dyason confirmed the incident.
“We are shocked and saddened by the death of one of our Law Enforcement officers today. The officer shot himself in the bathroom at the Law Enforcement base in Bishop Lavis just after midday,” Dyason explained.
It is still uncertain whether the official left behind a note to provide his loved ones with some sense of closure.
“The circumstances that led to the incident are unclear, but we ask that his family and colleagues are afforded space and privacy during this very difficult time. The Department is providing support to the officer’s family through the City’s Employee Assistance Programme,” Dyason added.
Western Cape Police spokesperson Malcolm Pojie said an inquest docket has been opened.
“Bishop Lavis SAPS registered an Inquest docket for further investigation following an incident earlier today, Friday, 14 March 2025 at about 12:30 at the Bishop Lavis Law Enforcement Armoury where members responded to a shooting incident and discovered the body of a 32 year old Law Enforcement officer. Members discovered the body with a gunshot wound to the head. His service pistol was found on the scene. The circumstances surrounding the incident are being investigated,” said Pojie.
While incidents of this nature have become a common occurrence in recent years, the City maintains that it is providing its staffers with psychosocial support. In a statement issued earlier this week, the chairperson of the Safety and Security Portfolio Committee, Mzwakhe Nqavashe echoed this.
The City has an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) that staff members as well as their family members can access. The Safety and Security Directorate also offers in-house counselling services to its staff, by professional trauma counsellors, and recently appointed a qualified Clinical Psychologist for its staff members.
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