A suspect wanted for the alleged shooting of a police officer was shot dead by police who were executing a warrant of arrest at Ntshiqo location, Tsolo, on Thursday, October 3.
Provincial police spokesperson, Warrant Officer Majola Nkohli, said the shooting of the 33-year-old suspect was a result of him allegedly pulling out his firearm when police were trying to arrest him.
A second suspect, 19, was arrested and is due to appear in court. Nkohli said the suspect had failed to appear in court for the alleged attempted murder of a police officer multiple times.
“It is alleged that members from various specialized units were acting on information about one of the wanted suspects, who was believed to be hiding at a house in Tsolo. Upon arrival at the scene, a few male suspects started running out of the house in different directions, but one of them pulled out a firearm and was fatally shot,” he said.
Nkohli said an inquest docket was opened, and the matter was going to be investigated by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate. The arrested man, he said, was linked to a few criminal cases and was due to appear in Tsolo Magistrate’s Court on charges ranging from robbery with aggravating circumstances to common robbery.
Transport and Community Safety MEC Xolile Nqatha said he was extremely gratified by the police response to the brazen criminals. “We are extremely delighted that our police always emerge victorious when they are attacked by these brazen criminals. These incidents are sending a strong message to the criminals that police will defend themselves when attacked. SAPS is ready; they must bring it on,” Nqatha said.
