Fredah Kobo, the hospital's spokesman, was killed in her neighbour's bathroom in Orchards, north of the capital, when she was allegedly shot in the back of the head by her boyfriend.

Kobo's boyfriend, Donald Mahlangu, died hours later in the Steve Biko Academic Hospital after he shot himself in the mouth.

Saturday's shootings were a day after police responded to a call for help from Kobo, who claimed that Mahlangu was threatening to kill her.

Aaron Ngobeni, spokesman for Kobo's family, said the couple had an argument at their home.

He said Kobo ran to a neighbour's house where Mahlangu cornered her in the bathroom and shot her.

"She had locked herself in the bathroom but he shot the door open then shot her once in the back of the head at close range. He then shot himself in the mouth."

Ngobeni said that on Wednesday Kobo told Mahlangu to find another place to live because she "wanted her space".

"Clearly, this guy did not like it. It is sad and traumatic. We are shocked because we did not expect something like this to happen," he said.

Police spokesman constable Maanda Singo confirmed that police responded to Kobo's call for help on Friday night but said he did not know the outcome of the complaint.