A hospital in South Africa has been temporarily shut down after a deadly shooting.

Gauteng health authorities said a nurse was shot dead at Tembisa Hospital by her partner, a policeman, on Wednesday morning.

The officer, who had driven to the facility in an official vehicle, then turned the gun on himself and is in a critical condition.

The incident had left patients and staff in shock, the Gauteng Department of Health said in a statement.

The hospital was closed until further notice to allow the police to do their work and to allow for counselling of patients and staff, it said.