The SA Defence Force (SANDF) on Monday confirmed a shooting at the 101 Air Supply Unit in Centurion, in which a corporal shot himself after earlier killing his wife.

SANDF spokesperson Colonel Petrus Motlhabane said the Lance Corporal was on guard duty at 101 Air Supply Unit on Sunday.

"He left his post and allegedly shot his wife at approximately 7.45pm," said Motlhabane.

"He later returned to the unit, and allegedly opened fire on the Military Police. A short while later he allegedly fatally shot himself."

Earlier police reports said the member was a colonel, in charge of the guard room at a military base in Centurion. However, the SANDF confirmed he was a corporal.

Captain Colette Weilbach of the Pretoria police said the 31-year-old SANDF member went to his home in Swol Street in Valhalla on Sunday night, and shot his wife three times through a window, using an army issued R5 assault rifle.

"He then went back to the base and hid in some bushes," said Weilbach.

"The military police went to look for him and he took a number of shots at them before the SAPS (SA Police Service) and a police helicopter arrived," said Weilbach.

"After a while they heard another shot and they found that he had killed himself."

Weilbach did not want to release their names, as their family had not been contacted yet.

"She (the wife) also worked for the military, but I don't know where and which rank she had," said Weilbach.

Motlhabane could not confirm the wife was in the military.

One of the couple's three children was at home at the time of the shooting.

SAPS and the Military Police Agency were investigating cases of murder and suicide.