The Ehlanzeni District’s deputy commissioner, Brigadier Bheki Thabethe, is reported to be in hospital after an attack in Pienaar on Saturday January 21.
According to information at Mpumalanga News’s disposal, Thabethe was at a motor spares shop in the Nkanini area when the incident took place. A provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, confirmed the incident.
“Brigadier Thabethe was in Pienaar when he saw a group of people assaulting a man. He approached them and tried to negotiate with them not to assault him, but at least report him to the police if he did anything wrong,” Mohlala said.
“The group subsided, but two men came back to confront Thabethe and they charged on him. One took a pavement brick and the second one withdrew a firearm from another person from the group. He was hit on the forehead with the brick and fell down,” he explained.
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Mohlala said Thabethe withdrew his service pistol and fired shots towards the suspects. “Thabethe fired several shots while he was down. The first suspect was shot once and the second twice,” he said.
Thabethe suffered a head injury. He and the suspects were admitted to hospital. More information indicated that one of the suspects has been reported dead.
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Mohlala also confirmed that Thabethe’s vehicle (a white Toyota Hilux) was stolen.
Cases of attempted murder and a stolen vehicle have been opened.
