One police officer was fatally shot while the other was wounded while they were attending to a business robbery in Masoyi near Hazyview in Mpumalanga.

According to a provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, the two police sergeants were reportedly attending to a business burglary complaint in progress, when they were attacked in the early hours of of this morning at around 00:30.

“The Masoyi Police Station responded to a call, after a supermarket in Chochocho Village had been broken into by armed suspects. The two police members rushed to the scene, however, they were confronted with a hail of bullets from the suspects.

“The two members were shot, and sadly, Sergeant Vusi Elvis Siwela (38) succumbed to gunshot wounds, while Sergeant Thandazile Khoza sustained injuries. She is currently recovering in the hospital,” he said.

Mohlala said it was later established that the suspects had gained entry to the supermarket after detonating some explosives on its doors.

The suspects are said to have stolen an undisclosed amount of cash as well as some cigarettes from the shop.

Siwela was stationed at the Masoyi visible policing station at the time of his passing.

Police urge anyone with information that may assist in apprehending the perpetrators to call the Crime Stop number at 08600 10111. Alternatively, members of the public can send information via the My SAPS app.