A Cape Town law enforcement officer narrowly avoided injury this weekend when a bullet aimed at his hip bounced off his tactical belt, preventing serious harm.
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On Sunday evening, LEAP officers were patrolling in Gugulethu when they noticed an Avanza driving suspiciously. Alderman JP Smith, the City’s Mayco member for safety and security, says the drivers opened fire on the officers when they signalled them to stop.
‘As the shooters departed from the vehicle, still shooting, LEAP members returned fire and the three suspects fled. Approaching the vehicle, they found two occupants in the vehicle, in the front seats. It turned out that the two occupants had been hijacked and were being kidnapped when our officers first grew suspicious,’ says Smith.
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During the attack, one of the officers was hit. However, the bullet bounced off his tactical belt. ‘Just millimetres more and it may have been a different story,’ Smith notes.
The vehicle was processed for fingerprints and charges of hijacking, kidnapping and attempted murder were registered.
Smith says the officers were back at work the following day even though they were instructed to attend compulsory counselling. ‘They are adamant there is “work to be done out there”.’
‘These are South Africa’s true heroes,’ he adds. ‘[I] can only praise their dedication. For them, it’s not a job. It’s their calling.’
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Picture: JP Smith / Facebook