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On Saturday night, 11 December 2021, a police officer assigned to the Ladysmith K9 Unit was shot and killed.
According to police spokesperson Brigadier Jay Naicker, the off-duty police officer was driving in Steadville around 6 pm on Saturday. “It is alleged that his vehicle was bumped from behind by another vehicle, and as he alighted from his vehicle to investigate, he was shot several times at point blank range.”
The 43-year-old Sergeant died on the scene. The attackers stole his service pistol and wallet before fleeing the scene.
Police officers from various units in the uThukela District were dispatched right away, and an investigation was launched to find the perpetrators. “Following the swift intervention, the team traced the suspects to E Section in Ezakheni. Two men aged 25 and 30 were arrested, whilst the vehicle used in the commission of the crime was seized by police,” Brigadier Naicker clarifies.
Police recovered the officer’s firearm and the firearm used by the perpetrators. At this point, the motive appears to be robbery. The two men are due to appear in Ladysmith Magistrates Court shortly. They will face murder and robbery charges.
Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, the Provincial Commissioner of KwaZulu-Natal, has praised the uThukela District police officers. All of whom sprang into action in response to the death of one of their own.
“The swift response from police officers within the uThukela District is highly commended. Criminals who continue to open fire on police officers for their firearms have no place in our society. I am very relieved that the perpetrators have been arrested and we hope that the criminal justice system will ensure that they are permanently removed from our society. We also extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of our colleague who was killed so callously just because he was a police officer. We will do everything within our power to ensure that the culprits receive appropriate sentences for their actions as it will bring closure for the family of the deceased,” Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi concluded.
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