The Hoedspruit police were doing their normal rounds on April 24 in The Oaks village just outside Hoedspruit when they were attacked by community members.
“It is alleged that the police were conducting random stop and searches when the spotted a man who appeared to be armed. When they searched him, he was armed. The police tried to arrest the suspect but they were attacked by the community instead,” stated Sergeant Livhuwani Mulaudzi, Hoedspruit police spokesperson.
According to information, the community did not only attack the police, but vandalised their vehicle as well.
Read: SAPS: Massive manhunt after woman and children are attacked on smallholding outside Tzaneen
“The two suspects Nicholas Mabilo (28) and Isaac Molele (34) were reprimanded by the police and were charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm, malicious damage to property and assault”, added Mulaudzi. “We urge communities to not attack police officials or damage state property as we will not be able to assist them in future due to the shortage of vehicles, how will we assist them when they damage the property that is supposed to serve the”, concluded Mulaudzi.
