Off-duty cop shot dead in Mpumalanga
A manhunt has been launched for a man in connection with the alleged murder of an off-duty police captain who was shot and killed at a carwash.
An off-duty Nelspruit police captain (44) was killed during a shoot-out at a KaNyamazane, Mpumalanga, carwash on Saturday night.
The Mpumalanga Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations’ (Hawks) spokesperson, Captain Dineo Sekgotodi, says the captain took his vehicle to the carwash on Saturday. While he was waiting for his car to be washed, another vehicle reportedly bumped into his.
Sekgotodi says the captain and the person who bumped into his vehicle discussed the matter in the presence of a police sergeant, who was with the captain at the time of the incident.
“An agreement was made for payment of R5 000 for the repair of the damages,” Sekgotodi adds.
She says it is alleged that the sergeant drove the car, belonging to the man who bumped into the captain’s vehicle, to the captain’s parents’ house, pending the payment. It is alleged that the vehicle’s owner had agreed to this.
The police sergeant then left the captain and the man at the carwash and went home.
“It is alleged that an argument ensued between the suspect and the deceased. When the sergeant came back, he found the police captain shot.
“According to witnesses, it is alleged that during the argument, the suspect had taken out a firearm and shot at the deceased,” she says.
The captain died as a result of his injuries.
Sekgotodi says the sergeant then tried to apprehend the suspect, but he was fired at too. There was an exchange of gunfire between the two before the man fled the scene on foot.
“[A] preliminary investigation was conducted by a team comprising of the Nelspruit Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit, the Mpumalanga Provincial Organised Crime Unit, Nelspruit Crime Intelligence and the Local Criminal Record Centre,” she adds.
The police are requesting anyone with information that can lead to the arrest of the perpetrator to contact investigating officer Captain Mduduzi Comfort Mkhonza on 082 304 0052. All information received will be treated confidentially.
The police are also requesting that Sibusiso Maseko from Marite, who they believe can assist them in solving the case, to come forward by contacting Captain Mkhonza or reporting to his nearest police station.
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