Police in Oudtshoorn have opened a murder and an inquest docket following the deaths of two provincial traffic officers who were found with gunshot wounds at their home on Monday afternoon.
According to South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson Christopher Spies, officers responded to reports of a shooting at a residence in Jones Street, Oudtshoorn, at approximately 3:45pm on Monday, December 29, 2025.
Officers found dead at the scene
Upon arrival, police discovered a 38-year-old man and a 34-year-old woman with gunshot wounds in the bathroom of the house. Paramedics declared both victims dead at the scene.
“A pistol was seized at the residence,” Spies confirmed, adding that Oudtshoorn detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding this incident.
The deceased were later identified as Jermaine Coetzee (38) and Caylin Coetzee (34), both traffic officers employed by the Western Cape Department of Mobility.
Department of Mobility responds
In response to the tragedy, Western Cape Minister of Mobility Isaac Mbulelo Sileku led a high-level departmental delegation to Oudtshoorn on Tuesday to support affected staff.
The delegation included:
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Director-General Maxine Bezuidenhout
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Acting Director Antoinette Fennie
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Acting Regional Director William Groenewald
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Chief of Traffic Lunny Spogter
They visited the department’s traffic offices in Oudtshoorn following the fatal shooting.
Condolences from local leadership
Executive Mayor of the Greater Oudtshoorn Municipality, Councillor Johan Allers, expressed his condolences to the families, colleagues and friends of the deceased.
“This is a tremendous loss that leaves deep scars, not only within the department, but also within the broader community,” Allers said.
Minister urges support and healing
Addressing traffic officials, Minister Sileku acknowledged the emotional toll of the incident and the unanswered questions surrounding the deaths.
“I ask myself many questions, and honestly, I do not know all the answers. It is incredibly painful when people lose their lives,” he said.
He urged staff not to blame themselves and encouraged collective support during the mourning period.
“This is a time of mourning, but also a time to support one another and the families as everyone goes through this painful process,” Sileku added.
Trauma support offered
The Department of Mobility confirmed that professional trauma counselling and emotional support would be provided to staff in Oudtshoorn affected by the incident.
Police investigations are ongoing.
