A policeman was shot early this morning. The incident occurred at 02:15 on Sunday October 31.
Police and emergency services were notified of an incident in which a vehicle veered off the road and fell into a river, resulting in the death of a driver.
One occupant survived. While the officials were busy at the scene, a group of about five suspects emerged from the nearby bushes and indiscriminately fired shots at them.
The suspects demanded firearms and bulletproof jackets from the members. A police constable is fighting for his life in hospital as a result of the multiple gunshot wounds that he sustained after being shot by suspects who robbed him of his service firearm, a cell phone and keys to a state car.
Three SAPS members as well as an official from fire and rescue survived the incident unharmed.
A state vehicle was damaged during the incident. The suspects then fled the scene on foot.
A case of armed robbery with an additional charge of attempted murder was opened, hence the manhunt.
Police retrieved cartridges at the scene. The police in Bushbuckridge request anyone with information that can lead to the arrest of the suspects to contact Det Cont Christoph Mashego on 0609120365 or call the Crime Stop number at 0860010111.
Alternatively members of the public can send information via MYSAPSAPP. All information will be treated as confidential and callers may opt to remain anonymous.
The provincial commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lt Gen Semakaleng Manamela, has strongly condemned the attack of officials who were rendering their service to the victims and ordered for the swift arrest of the suspects as well as the recovery of the stolen firearm and keys for the state vehicle.
