Policeman shot in apparent hit

TONGA – Seven suspects appeared in the Tonga Magistrate’s Court on Monday for the murder of a police officer last Friday.

The case was postponed for today, at which the accused were expected to make an application to Legal Aid.

At the time of going to press, Corridor Gazette was unable to report on court proceedings.

Among the accused is a fellow police officer who is believed to have been part of the planning of the murder.

The suspects were arrested hours after the shooting incident which resulted in the death of Const Sifiso Mtshweni.

“The constable was asleep with his nephew and mother in the house when the suspect(s) gained entrance through the window of his room. The suspect(s) shot him in the back and ran away without taking anything. He managed to request help from his mother and nephew but succumbed to the injuries and died,” said Brig Selvy Mohlala.

The SAPS commissioner of Mpumalanga, Lt Genl Thulani Ntobela expressed his shock and sent his condolences to the family.

Ntobela furthermore promised that no stone would be left unturned in finding those responsible for the murder described as “cold-blooded and gruesome”.

“The police work day and night to ensure that we are all safe in our houses and we cannot allow anyone to destruct us in our mission of fighting crime. We will leave no stone unturned until we arrest the suspect(s),” Ntobela said.

Eleven hours after the tragic incident, police started making arrests when they tracked down a vehicle in Matsulu they believed to have been used by the suspect(s).

Two occupants of a silver Volkswagen Jetta, which is also used as a local taxi, where arrested at around 11:00 on Friday.

The suspects took the police to the house where murder was planned and three other men were also apprehended.

The police continued to interrogate them until they pointed out two more suspects, a constable and his friend in Louisville.

This made a total of seven people arrested for the alleged murder.

Ntobela congratulated members of the tracking unit for their splendid and diligent work.

He said, “I am proud of the good work by the police in arresting the suspects so fast and hope that this will be a lesson to others who are thinking of laying a hand on our police. This will instil confidence in our communities that there are dedicated police members who want to fight crime by all means.”

At the time of going to press the family of the deceased had informed Corridor Gazette that they were not ready speak to the media.