Former crime intelligence police officer convicted of girlfriend’s murder

A former Johannesburg police constable attached to crime intelligence has been found guilty of murdering his girlfriend.

The South Gauteng high court this week convicted Silas Masemola, 25, of killing Puleng Khumalo, 31.

Robbie Raburabu, spokesperson for the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid), said the directorate investigated the murder, which took place in Protea Ext 39 in Soweto on April 4 2022.

“The member shot and killed his girlfriend who was in the bathroom. He, however, told the police the deceased shot herself using his service pistol,” said Raburabu.

“On investigation, it was established the deceased could not have shot herself and the member was placed under arrest by Ipid. Masemola has been dismissed as a result of recommendations from Ipid.”

Sentencing procedures start on May 9.

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