A Diepsloot police officer was shot dead on Tuesday night (28 June) in the populous township while changing a punctured tyre with a colleague in Tanganani Ext.
Police spokesperson Colonel Lungelo Dlamini confirmed that police launched a manhunt for a group of four men who shot and killed the 31-year-old constable.
Read: Massive protest in Diepsloot, live ammunition fired
He said the group robbed the two officers of their firearms before fleeing the scene on foot.
“Two police officers stationed at Diepsloot were changing a tyre when they were allegedly confronted by four suspects. The suspects fired shots and one policeman was shot in the upper body and died on his way to the hospital. The suspects then robbed them of their firearms before fleeing the scene on foot. The other police officer was not hurt. The officers were on duty when they were attacked,” he said.
Dlamini announced that anyone with information about the incident would be rewarded if it leads to the arrest and conviction of the suspects. He did not disclose the value of the reward.
Dlamini added that the police have deployed a crack team that includes Crime Intelligence, officers from the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation, The Hawks and the Provincial tracking team to hunt down the ruthless criminals. “They will work around the clock to bring them to book.”
The identity of the deceased officer has not yet been released.
The police version dispelled earlier claims that the officers were responding to an armed robbery at a Somali-owned shop. Blood stains were still visible at the scene when Fourways Review sources visited the scene.
The fatal incident took place during a community uprising in Diepsloot over alleged favouritism in the allocation of jobs at a new shopping mall which is under construction.
The township was on Wednesday crawling with police officers pursuing the suspects.
Details: Anyone with information can call 0111.
