Commissioner says they ‘will not rest’ until cop killers are found
Anyone with information should phone Crime Stop and can do so anonymously - 08600 10111.
Two Boksburg North police officers were fatally shot by robbers while waiting for a mortuary van on the corner of Main Reef and Field roads in Lilianton last night (October 13).
According to national SAPS spokesperson Colonel Athlenda Mathe, the 29-year-old constable and his colleague, a 45-year-old sergeant, responded to a complaint of unnatural death in the area at 21:30 and were accosted by three suspects and fatally shot at the scene at 21:45.
The constable had three years of service in the police and his colleague had been in the force for 18 years.
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The suspects fled the scene on foot and took the officers’ service pistols and bulletproof vests, Mathe said.
The national commissioner of the SAPS, General Fannie Masemola, has subsequently called on all South Africans to contribute to a safer country by working closely with the police to end the senseless attacks on and murders of police officers.
“All role players have been activated and a manhunt is underway to apprehend those who are behind the attack, as well as the recovery of the two-state firearms and two bulletproof vests.
“The killing of police officers in the line of duty and for their service pistols undermines the authority of the State and the proper functioning of the criminal justice system.
“While we review our police safety strategy and plan, as management we are calling for greater cooperation with our citizens to put an end to such incidents collectively.
“We believe that such incidents can be prevented. We will not rest until we find those behind the attack and killing of police officers. My deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the two members,” said Masemola.
Anyone with information that can help the police arrest the culprits should contact Crime Stop at 08600 10111 or download the MySAPS App.
Information will be treated with confidentiality.
The Advertiser is awaiting a response from the police on several unconfirmed reports related to the incident, including that the suspects also fired randomly while fleeing the scene and wounded some residents of the informal settlement.
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