Manhunt launched in cases of Pretoria police men targeted for service pistols
In the latest incident, the constable had returned home from participating in a soccer game at Kgosi Mampuru prison and was later shot in the back in his room.
The national commissioner of police Lieutenant-General Sehlale Masemola has ordered a manhunt for three unknown suspects responsible for the murder of a police officer in the north of Pretoria.
The killing is one of two incidents recently related to suspects targeting police for their service pistols.
The killing of the police constable stationed at the Hillbrow police station happened in extension 8 in Soshanguve on Saturday.
The constable had returned from participating in a soccer game at Kgosi Mampuru prison and was later shot in the back in his room.
It is reported that the constable’s mother and father tried to save the police officer’s life and rushed him to George Mukhari hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
The suspects took the police service pistol and cell phone and fled the scene.
National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed that an off-duty constable was gunned down at his home and his service pistol taken.
“He sadly succumbed to his injuries upon arrival in hospital.”
She said the incident occurred just after midnight and police had since launched a manhunt for three men believed to be behind the murder.
The second incident is that of a police captain shot in Montana, at Sefako Makgatho Drive on the N1 South highway.
Mathe confirmed that the captain was wounded and airlifted to a hospital after he was shot while on duty.
“He was with his work partner when they were accosted by two criminals who shot him and then left the scene with the service pistol of one of the captains.”
Police have also launched a manhunt for suspects in the incident.
General Masemola said police had mobilised resources to apprehend those responsible for two incidents in which police officers were targeted for their firearms.
“Police officers in affected provinces where gun violence is prevalent are working around the clock to ensure they continue to seize and confiscate illegal firearms during tracking and tracing of wanted suspects and disruptive operations that are being conducted daily,” said Masemola.
Masemola called on community members to share information through anonymous tip-offs, if need be to urgently address gun violence in SA.
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