The incident took place at about 03:00.
It is alleged that an unknown number of suspects entered a local shop at Makhuvha village outside Giyani and robbed the owners of an amount of cash and groceries at gun point.
“A suspicious looking vehicle was then noticed along the road leading to Phalaborwa and when the police stopped it, a shootout ensued and in the process one of our members was fatally wounded,” said SAPS Spokesperson, Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo.
The police shot and wounded one suspect who is currently under police guard in hospital.
It is also believed that one or more suspects might have been wounded during the shooting.
A manhunt has been launched for the possibly wounded suspect(s) who abandoned the vehicle and fled by foot.
The police recovered the following: two firearms• One vehicle; a Toyota Quantum and three cell phones.
The arrested suspect will soon appear before Giyani Magistrate Court on a charge of Murder and Armed robbery.
The Provincial Commissioner LT. General Nneke Ledwaba has condemned this barbaric and senseless act of killing a Police Officer in the strongest terms possible.
In passing condolences to the member’s bereaved family, General Ledwaba gave an assurance that the police will not rest until all the outstanding perpetrators are brought to book.
Investigations continues
