Police officer killed on Christmas morning

The body of a murdered police officer was found near Somerset West, Western Cape, on Christmas morning.

The body of the cop was found by fellow police officers in Lwandle.

It had both stab and gunshot wounds.

Police spokesperson Brigadier Novella Potelwa said the officer’s service pistol was missing. The state vehicle that he was driving was found a few metres away.

The constable had been working until the early hours of Sunday morning.

Injured suspect questioned

Potelwa added that an injured man was found in the vicinity of the crime scene and was being questioned by detectives.

The name of the 33-year-old police officer will only be released after his family has been informed.

Potelwa said the Hawks have taken over the investigation.

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Officer injured by escaped suspect

The murder of the police officer comes after another cop was shot while chasing a wanted suspect that escaped custody in November while making a court appearance in Matsafeni, near Nelspruit, in Mpumalanga.

Police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said the suspect, Bheki Martin Phiri, was on Thursday seen at a tuckshop.

When officers arrived, Phiri fired shots at them. He fled when officers started firing back at him.

The police officer was hit in the hand during the shootout.

Provincial Commissioner of the Saps in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant-General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela wished the injured officer a speedy recovery.

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