Girlfriend allegedly shot by policeman dies in hospital

Staff Writer

A mother of two who was allegedly shot in the head by her police officer boyfriend was declared brain dead and died in hospital.

This comes as Constable Siyabulela Xayimpi, 26, became the 62nd police member killed in the country since January. He was robbed then murdered with his own firearm at the weekend.

Zaheda Peters, who was allegedly shot by her detective boyfriend, Nevell du Toit, before he turned the gun on himself two weeks ago, died in hospital on Saturday, said her uncle, Noor Rhode.

Du Toit, 44, allegedly shot Peters, 31, at her Strand home.

Rhode previously said the family were thankful Peters’s two children, aged eight and 11, were with their father in Grassy Park at the time of the shooting.

Peters worked as an administration clerk at UCT.

Yesterday afternoon, the family was still waiting for Peters’s body to be released so they could bury her.

“The family is still trying to process everything. Her children are coping but we have not yet decided where they will live.

“Zaheda was declared brain dead (on Saturday),” Rhode said.

Police watchdog body the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) has opened an inquest docket into the incident and was initially investigating a case of attempted murder.

Ipid spokeperson Grace Langa said yesterday they were waiting for confirmation from detectives with a view to possibly changing the investigation.

Xayimpi, who was stationed at the Elands Bay police station, was shot and killed in Lentegeur on Friday when he left a tavern.

Police spokesperson André Traut said Xayimpi was attacked by four suspects, who robbed him of his firearm and killed him with it.

The suspects fled and no one has been arrested.

Anyone with information about either of the cases can contact Crime Stop at 08600 10111.