A Newcastle motorist — who shot dead another motorist at a parking lot — killed his wife first, police said on Friday.

Captain Shooz Magudulela said new information had come to light about the case on Thursday.

Both motorists were colleagues employed at the same security firm. Police have not yet released the name of the company.

Earlier, Sapa reported both motorists had been stationary at a high school parking lot at least 100 metres away from the Newcastle police station on Wednesday when the incident took place.

"One of the drivers got out of his car, walked over to the other car and started firing," Magudulela said at the time.

The victim died on the scene.

When the gunman saw police at a traffic light, he shot himself and later died in hospital.

Police said it had been discovered that hours earlier, the "man who snapped" had shot his wife Nonhlanhla Mpanza dead.

"He shot his wife dead and then apparently sent his colleague an SMS and asked to meet him at the parking lot. This is when he killed him " Magudulela said.

Police said the motive was believed to be domestic.

Mpanza's funeral takes place on Saturday at the Roypoint cemetery at 1pm.

Sapa