The Hawks in the Western Cape are looking into the fatal shooting of a Cape Town police officer outside his family residence in Delft over the weekend.
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Detective Sergeant Nkosi Wellen (44) who worked at the Philippi East police station, was shot and killed by unidentified assailants on Saturday night, according to Western Cape police spokesperson Colonel Andre Traut.
Traut stated that Wellen was off duty at the time of the incident.
Detectives from the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) are examining the details surrounding the shooting.
When approached for comment, provincial Hawks spokesperson Zinzi Hani said they received the investigation report on Monday morning. She added that the case is ‘still pretty new’ and they have ‘nothing to share at this stage’ as the ‘team is still assessing.’
Acting provincial secretary of the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru), Xolile Marimani, condemned the murder.
‘We are deeply saddened by the death of a brave police officer who the criminals of this country have shot. This was a cowardly act of violence against our police officer,’ he said.
‘Our officers are the thin blue line that stands between residents and harm’s way. They put their lives on the line every day to protect us and to serve us while keeping the community safe.’
Marimani further emphasised that the killing of any officer amounted to an assault on the state and tarnished the police’s reputation for ensuring community safety.
‘It is an assault on the very fabric of our society. An attack on the police is an attack on the state, and we will not tolerate such violence against our very own police officers,’ he said.
Popcru demanded ‘very harsh punishment’ for criminals who targeted the state.
He added, ‘We, therefore, invite the government to take measures to ensure that they protect those protecting us as the community. Harsh jail sentences must be given to cop killers.’
Western Cape Police Oversight and Community Safety MEC Reagen Allen insisted that those who kill police officers should be subjected to the full force of the law.
‘The Western Cape government will not allow heinous acts such as these to go unpunished,’ he said.
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Picture: Thapelo Maphakela / Gallo Images
