Hours after a suspected killer of a Mpumalanga police officer was arrested on Friday afternoon, another policeman was shot dead in Pienaar.

Mpumalanga News reports that this brings the number of officers that have been fatally shot in the province since May 30 to two.

Constable Donald Mathebula (34) was shot and killed at Phakane in the crime-ridden settlement of Pienaar outside Mbombela on Friday night at about 21:00.

Mathebula was still in uniform when he stopped his vehicle at one of the local tuckshops, where he was accosted by three armed suspects.

“They were wearing balaclavas when they shot at Mathebula. He managed to drive his vehicle in an attempt to flee the scene. He lost control of the vehicle, which then hit a wall and a tree before coming to a standstill,” says Mpumalanga police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane.

She says nothing was stolen from Mathebula, but that there were bullet holes on the back of the vehicle and the driver’s side window.

She says Mathebula was attached to the Pienaar SAPS and was in the Visible Policing Unit. He served in the SAPS for 10 years.

Mpumalanga News sent media enquiries to Ndubane. She could not say whether spent cartridges were found at the scene, but says she will provide more information when it is available.

Meanwhile, both the acting provincial police commissioner, Major General Dr Zeph Mkhwanazi, and the MEC for community safety, security and liaison, Jackie Macie, condemned the police officers’ killings.

“Just a week ago, a police officer was fatally shot and now another. Anyone who attacks a police officer is directly attacking the state and will face the full might of the law,” warns Mkhwanazi.

Macie has called on the Pienaar community to help the SAPS find the suspects.

He says the police must spare no effort in ensuring that the suspects are swiftly brought to book to face the consequences of their violent actions.

In another recent incident, Constable Khulani Chabangu (29) was gunned down during a robbery at a barbershop in Lillydale, Bushbuckridge, on May 30.

“In honouring the memory of the deceased and many other officers who have lost their lives to criminals, the police must urgently arrest the suspects. Members must remain relentless in their efforts to serve and protect communities. They should not be deterred by attacks on their colleagues. Those who attack law enforcement officers, whether on- or off-duty, must be harshly punished,” Macie says.

A 25-year-old suspect has since been arrested in connection with Chabangu’s killing. He was arrested in Mkhuhlu on Friday afternoon at around 16:30.

The suspect was found with two cellphones, one of which was allegedly stolen during the attack.

A firearm believed to have been used to kill Chabangu was seized.

“It was found with four live rounds of ammunition. Its serial numbers had been filed off. The findings were made in the house of the suspect’s friend, who evaded arrest by disappearing into the residential area,” says Mpumalanga Hawks spokesperson, Colonel Magonseni Nkosi.

He says the arrested suspect will appear before the Mkhuhlu Magistrate’s Court soon.

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