The police are investigating a case of culpable homicide after a traffic law enforcement officer was killed in a hit-and-run incident on the N4 toll road near Middelburg.

According to Moeti Mmusi from the Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison, the tragic incident occurred in the early hours of October 14 when the Principal Provincial Inspector, Joseph Mtselu, was on duty.

As he directed a bakkie pulling a trailer to the Middelburg weighbridge on the N4, it allegedly did not stop and hit him, and the driver reportedly drove off and fled the scene.

The 49-year-old was declared dead on the scene, and an investigation has since been launched by the police to hunt the driver down.

Mpumalanga MEC for Community Safety, Security, and Liaison, Jackie Macie, sent his heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of the deceased through a statement released yesterday, further calling on the police to work tirelessly to find the driver.

“We also encourage traffic law enforcement officers to be more vigilant when on the road, as some motorists do not respect the rules of the road,” he said, expressing how devastating it is for the Department to lose traffic officers on duty when they are working tirelessly to save lives.

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