As the spate of fatal assaults on police officers continues to rise across the country, a police captain was shot in the Site 5 informal settlement in Cape Town on Sunday afternoon.
‘Western Cape police are reeling in shock after the murder of one of their colleagues,’ said police spokesperson Brigadier Novela Potelwa.
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The captain was attached to the Table View police station.
As reported by IOL, a leaked police report said: ‘According to the eyewitness, the officer was on duty and went to Site 5 to have his TV fixed using his private vehicle.
‘While he was busy chatting with the person who fixed his TV, one suspect came and tried to grab his state-issued firearm. During the fight, the second suspect came, took out a firearm, and shot the policeman several times.
‘The first suspect managed to gain hold of the officer’s firearm and shot him several times as well while he was lying on the ground.’
The suspects fled the scene with the policeman’s firearm shortly after the incident. No arrests have been made.
The police officer was declared dead when the ambulance arrived on the scene. The witness was unable to identify the suspects.
‘The identity of the 54-year-old victim is yet to be released,’ said Potelwa.
The circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting are being investigated by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI).
The motive is expected to be revealed as the investigation unfolds.
‘Western Cape police management are saddened by this attack on a police officer,’ added Potelwa. ‘Messages of condolences were conveyed to the slain police captain’s family and colleagues.’
This comes after five people, including an off-duty police officer, were shot and killed in a mass shooting in Gugulethu last month.
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Picture: Taylor R / Unsplash