ORANGE FARM. – Thursday morning sadly increased the number of police officers killed on duty.
This caused something of a national outcry, including comment from state president Jacob Zuma. Railway officer Constable Mahlari was killed on duty at Stratford Train Station in Orange Farm extension 2.
Apparently eight suspects are on the loose after executing an officer in the line of duty and attempting to kill another. These suspects face heavy charges as the Orange Farms Police Detectives are investigating three counts of armed robbery, attempted murder, murder and business robbery.
Police spokesperson Captain Johannes Motsiri says Police launched a manhunt for the suspects after the police officers were attacked on responding to a call from train station guards after midnight.
“One police officer was shot in the upper body and died at the scene,” declared Motsiri.
He adds that another officer was seriously assaulted, and was taken to the local hospital in a serious but stable condition.
Motsiri: “Their firearms were taken. It was also later established that a guard’s firearm at the station was also seized.”
The heavily armed suspects fled the scene on foot. The Gauteng Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Lesetja Mothiba called on people to rally around the police:
“Police are being attacked by heavily armed gangs and any information that may lead to the recovery of these firearms will be rewarded.”
On Saturday Motsiri confirmed that another police officer was attacked at Orange Farm Extension 4 while off duty. He was attacked by taxi drivers in broad daylight and severely assaulted. The police officer’s firearm was taken in the process. He was hospitalised. Two suspects were arrested but the firearm is still missing.
