The Gugulethu Spiritual Crime Prevention Forum (SCPF) condemned the killing of an off-duty officer from Gugulethu Police Station on Saturday 15 August. The officer was shot and killed in Hani Street, Nyanga.

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SCPF condemns killing of off-duty officer

Forum station coordinator, Zama Mfihlo, urged law-enforcement agencies to thoroughly investigate the killing. He said an attack on a police officer was an attack on the state.

“We are saddened by the news. We believe law-enforcement officers are supposed to be respected because of the role they play in our communities. Even criminals need officers to protect them. Regardless of what the officer did, he didn’t deserve to die in that manner.” Mfihlo said adding that government needed to intervene and seize all the illegal firearms currently on the streets.

He urged community members to learn to tolerate one another.

DPCI probes motive for shooting

Provincial police spokesperson Brig Novela Potelwa said Western Cape officers were reeling from shock after an off-duty police officer was shot and killed in Nyanga on Saturday evening in circumstances currently being probed by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) detectives.

Police respond to gunshots in Hani Street

“Reports indicate that Nyanga officers on patrol responded to gunshots heard in the area at approximately 22:20, when they saw a crowd gathered in Hani Street. On arrival at the scene they discovered a male lying on the road with gunshot wounds to his upper body. He was declared dead at the scene.”

She said information later revealed that the deceased was an officer attached to Gugulethu Police Station.

The motive for the shooting incident is the subject of ongoing investigations by the DPCI.

“No arrests have been effected yet,” Potelwa said. “Police management has expressed heartfelt condolences to the family and colleagues of the deceased member.”