News24 reports two Western Cape police officers have been found dead in their homes two days apart, prompting Western Cape police to open inquest dockets.

Although the Police and Prison Civil Rights Union (Popcru) believes that the officers – Constable Justin Ruan Sasman and Warrant Officer Arthur Collins – died by suicide, that has not been verified by police. Popcru’s Xolile Marimani said: "This is a very unfortunate situation, which is not isolated to other situations where our members committed suicide. We want to make it categorically clear that our members are working under severe conditions and dealing with difficult societal problems. And as much as they are dealing with them, they also deal with their own personal challenges and their families. This is the environment that they always find themselves in." In the one incident, according to police spokesperson Colonel André Traut, a 34-year-old constable was found dead at his home in Wesbank, Malmesbury, on Monday afternoon. The officer was stationed at the Malmesbury police station. In the second incident, the body of a 58-year-old warrant officer was found at his home in Fish Hoek on Sunday evening. The officer was stationed at Muizenberg police station. Traut said with reference to both incidents that no foul play was suspected.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Lisalee Solomons at News24

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