The Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Mondli Zuma has called on the community to assist police with the investigation into the shooting that claimed the life of a law enforcement officer.
Warrant Officer Samuel Nkosi was fatally shot on July 25 and his colleague, Sergeant Johannes Vivian Tlou was shot in his right hand.
The two men were patrolling in Lynnville and were unaware that a robbery was taking place at a filling station where they stopped.
Inside the convenient store at the filling station, a group of six suspects robbed employees of their belongings.
“They allegedly placed explosives on the counter and threatened to detonate them should the employees try to alert police,” said the provincial police spokesperson Brig Leonard Hlathi.
When the robbers saw the officers they opened fire and a crossfire ensued.
Municipal spokesperson Mr Lebo Mofokeng said the officers’ routine patrol was part of the municipality’s effort to intensify the fight against cable theft.
“Cable theft has spiralled out of control. The leadership collective of Emalahleni Local Municipality condemns this barbaric act in the strongest terms possible,” Mofokeng said.
He said more than ever before, there is a need to mobilise whatever resources at the municipality’s disposal to stop this anarchy once and for all, “Lest we lose more employees and innocent souls from these desperate criminal acts of sabotage with a potential to collapse our beautiful city and service delivery machinery if it is allowed to go on beyond this point, enough its enough.”
He said working together with the communities they will spare no efforts in supporting the police and to ensure that the suspects are traced and brought to book.
The police have launched an intensive manhunt for the suspects.
Genl Zuma has also sent his deepest condolences to the Nkosi family and further wishes a speedy recovery to Sgt Tlou.
“We consider what has happened as an attack to the law enforcement agencies at large and the perpetrators cannot go unabated, they must be found,” said General Zuma.
Anyone with information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects is urged to call Colonel One Thobejane on 082 372 2195, or call the Crime Stop number on 08600 1011, alternatively, they can give a tip-off on the MySAPSApp that can be downloaded to any smartphone.
All information will be treated with the strictest confidentiality and callers may opt to remain anonymous.
