SOWETO - MAN WITH ALLEGED HISTORY OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE KILLS HIMSELF AFTER HOSTAGE DRAMA

 A 37-year-old man has committed suicide and also shot his 31-year-old girlfriend in Tladi, Soweto a short while ago - following a day-long hostage drama. Hostage negotiators had been trying to get the man to surrender himself or the victim since this morning.  He allegedly had a history of domestic violence.

The police say the man was angry after the girlfriend opened a case of assault and malicious damage to property against him.

Shocked neighbours and onlookers gathered at the house where the man shot his girlfriend before committing suicide. His body is yet to be removed.

The woman has been taken to hospital in a critical condition.

The neighbours says the couple started fighting in the morning. Upon realizing that the man was armed with a firearm they called the police.

Hostage negotiators tried to defuse the situation the whole day, but they did not succeed.

The hostage taker attempted to kill the woman, before ending his life.

The police's Mbulaheni Netshivhodza says the man allegedly has a history of domestic violence.
"The girlfriend has opened a case against him of assault and malicious damage to property so there were some quarrels and he was not happy about that. Now he's saying for him its better to kill the girlfriend and himself so we are still busy with negotiations to make sure both lives of the victim and the suspect are safe."

via - sabc