Officer shot while in pursuit of armed robbers

LIMPOPO – WO Thomas Mabada (52) attached to the Siloam  police station was shot and killed yesterday (Monday) while pursuing suspected armed robbers between Siloam and Thohoyandou.

Provincial police spokesperson, Col Ronel Otto, said the officers were patrolling the road between Siloam and Thohoyandou, where there had been an increase in incidents of armed robbery on business owners.

“They received information about a suspected vehicle and after spotting the vehicle, followed it. Shots were then fired. The warrant officer was shot and he died on the scene. The suspected vehicle was later found abandoned,” said otto.

No arrests have been made yet and investigations continue, she added.

The Provincial Police Commissioner Lt Gen Fannie Masemola expressed his sincerest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Mabada, saying he made the greatest sacrifice of all by giving his life in trying to protect the safety of others.

He said the police will not rest before the suspects are brought to justice.

“We will use all the resources available to us to track down these suspects to bring them to book and if any member of the public out there has any information that can assist us, we appeal to them to come forward, ” he said.