A KwaDukuza traffic officer superintendent, Desmond Arumugam, was tragically shot and killed on Monday morning.

It is alleged that the 50-year-old was murdered by a man who had posed as a passenger before holding up the taxi driver and passengers at gunpoint near the N2 Groutville off-ramp.

He may have been attempting to hi-jack the vehicle.

The father of three reportedly stopped to investigate why the taxi had pulled over under a bridge. The robber allegedly fired multiple shots, hitting Arumugam in the upper body.

The officer attempted to get back to his vehicle but was followed by the shooter and repeatedly shot. The man fled with the taxi. The vehicle was later found abandoned in Thembeni, a township between the N2 and Groutville.

The robber managed to escape on foot.

Police spokesperson Constable Thenjiswa Ngcobo confirmed that KwaDukuza police are investigating a case of murder.

“It is alleged that superintendent Arumugam was on duty when he was shot by an unknown suspect at the N2 Southbound near Groutville off-ramp,” said Ngcobo.

Arumugam’s death marks the third fatal incident involving a KwaDukuza traffic officer in the past three years. In November 2022, Superintendent Eduardo ‘Eddie’ Boaventura (59) was murdered after pulling over a car involved in a robbery.

In a separate incident in December 2022, assistant superintendent Colin Sibusiso Zulu was struck and killed by a bakkie during a roadblock between KwaDukuza CBD and Darnall.

Superintendent Arumugam’s funeral will be on Wednesday at the Shree Veeraboga Emperumal Temple in Tongaat, before the cremation at the KwaDukuza Cremation.

Chairperson of the community service and community safety portfolio committe Shayamoya councillor Collen Mdletshe said he was shocked by the high number of officers killed on duty.

“We need to look at our policies, strategies and resources to ensure the safety of our officers as this seems to be a common occurrence. We as KwaDukuza municipality council send our deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of our beloved Superintendent Arumugam,” said Mdletshe.

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