A police officer and two suspects have been killed in a shoot-out following an alleged armed robbery at the Ngcobo Shoprite Supermarket on September 3.
Hawks provincial spokesperson captain Yolisa Mgolodela said that at around 09:00 on the abovementioned date, five suspects allegedly barged into the shop and demanded money.
Mgolodela said one of the security guards ran to a nearby police station and raised alarm leading to police foiling the robbery in progress.
“A shoot-out ensued at the store and resulted in the death of one police officer and one got injured. Two suspects died on the scene and a firearm was recovered from one of the deceased suspects. One suspect was arrested but later released,” she said.
Mgolodela added that Lusindiso Gqokoma (37) was denied bail by the Ngcobo Magistrate’s Court on September 9 for his alleged involvement in the armed robbery. The arrest was initiated through the joint effort of the Mthatha based Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation, members of the Public Order Police Services and Crime Intelligence Gathering on September 7.
Hawks Provincial Head Major General Obed Ngwenya lauded the joint police team for executing a successful operation that secured a police murder suspect.
The matter was remanded to October 16 for a formal bail application.
