IMAGE FOR ILLUSTRATION ONLY. Police officers are seen speaking to media and Save SA members shortly after a group of alleged ANC members attacked and intimidated the Save SA members camping in Church Square, 5 April 2017, Pretoria. Picture: Jacques Nelles
One suspect who assaulted a Sunnyside, Pretoria police officer on Friday was later admitted to hospital under police guard after he was shot in the leg, Gauteng police said.
The incident happened when police officers who were on routine patrol confronted a man suspected of dealing in drugs, Colonel Lungelo Dlamini said on Sunday.
“On approaching him, he ran away, and one police officer chased him on foot. The suspect turned around and attacked [the] police officer. The officer was hit with an object on his head.
“In defending himself, as the attacker had been joined by other people, he fired a warning shot but it could not stop the attack. Another shot was fired and the attacker was wounded in the leg.”
Other officers who had come to his rescue managed to arrest the suspect, who would be charged with attempted murder when he appeared in court. The officer, a constable, was admitted to hospital in a stable condition, Dlamini said.
A video posted by SABC News on Twitter of police officials allegedly being attacked by foreign nationals in Sunnyside caused outrage on Saturday.
It was reported that police were attacked while patrolling in Sunnyside, Pretoria, and could not retaliate or defend themselves while they were being assaulted.
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