Delmas cop is shot near Bronkhorstspruit
In another incident two weeks prior to this shooting, a motorist was hijacked and kidnapped at the stop sign at the R25/Balmoral crossing.
According to information, there is a new spike in hijackings and kidnappings in the vicinity of the R25, N4 and other surrounding provincial roads in and around Bronkhorstspruit.
During one such incident, a Delmas Police Station member was shot at the R25/R568 T-junction on January 27.
The victim, Constable Thandisizwe Prince Mathonsi, was off-duty at the time. He attended a wedding with family on the said date.
On his way home, Mathonsi stopped at the stop sign at the R25/R568 T-junction. Suddenly, he heard a knock on the window of the grey Mercedes Benz he was driving.
According to a media statement issued by the Bronkhorstspruit SAPS, an unknown gunman opened fire on Mathonsi inside his vehicle.
However, the wounded Mathonsi managed to drive himself to the safety of the Bronkhorstspruit Police Station. He arrived there at about 22:30.
Mathonsi was shot twice and sustained bullet wounds to his right hand and left thigh.
Emergency services were contacted, and they rushed Mathonsi to the Muelmed Hospital in Pretoria.
According to the Bronkhorstspruit SAPS, the motive for the shooting is unknown, and the case is under investigation.
In another incident on January 13 at about 00:15, a motorist stopped at the stop sign at the R25/Balmoral crossing.
An unknown man dressed in a police uniform apparently approached the motorist. The motorist was able to spot a white unmarked VW Golf.
The culprit ordered the motorist out of his vehicle. At this stage, two more men apparently appeared on the scene and fled with the motorist’s vehicle.
They took the victim to Pretoria, where, over two days, they apparently withdrew large sums of money from his bank account.
They dropped the victim alongside a road, where he was found and taken to the police station.
Other cases were apparently reported over the past few weeks, but this could not be confirmed at the time of going to print.
At the time of going to print, Captain Carla Hartley, the spokesperson for the Delmas SAPS, confirmed Mathonsi is still in hospital and underwent an operation on January 30.
“I spoke with him today. He is doing well and is in good spirits,” said Hartley.
