The body of a 33-year-old constable from Lingelethu West Police Station was discovered on Sunday (25 December) in Phaliso Street in Asanda Village in Lwandle.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Novela Potelwa said a constable who had worked until the early hours of Sunday morning had allegedly suffered stab and gunshot wounds.
“His official firearm was taken and the state vehicle he was driving was found some metres from the body. The circumstances surrounding the horrific discovery are under investigation and robbery as a motive for the murder cannot be ruled out at this stage of the investigation,” said Potelwa.
Hawks spokesperson Zinzi Hani confirms that a firearm used in the murder was recovered and that four men have been arrested in connection with the murder.
“After the preliminary investigation, it was established that the member was robbed of his service pistol and a cellphone. The information shows that before being robbed, he fired several shots towards his attackers and injured one in the process. The four suspects are due to make their first appearance in the Strand Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday 28 December.”
Hani confirms the Hawks suspect that the constable was killed between 06:30 and 06:45 on Christmas day.
An anonymous source who works for the police confirmed that the officer was shot 50 meters from his police vehicle.
Potelwa mentioned that at this stage details of the officer can’t be released because the police still have to inform his next of kin.
Niklaas Thysen from Strand Community Policing Forum (CPF) says they regret hearing of this tragic murder.
“An officer’s life was taken away. These senseless murders of our officers needs to come to an end,” concludes Thysen.
