SIX police officers attacked in six days in the Western Cape, and three of them slain.
This startling statistic has left Hawks head Mthandazo Ntlemeza and provincial police commissioner Khombinkosi Jula “deeply disturbed”.
Ntlemeza said police attacks remain a priority crime as they threaten the safety of communities in the country.
“We shall continue to relentlessly pursue all responsible in carrying out the directorate’s mandate of ensuring that all people are, and feel, safe in the country. An attack on a police officer is an attack on the state,” Ntlemeza said.
Speaking to the Cape Times yesterday, provincial police spokesperson Novela Potelwa said: “We would, however, refrain from speculating about the motives of these incidents. The Hawks, we trust, will get to the bottom of this.”
Constable Masibonge Mqwada, 33, was shot and killed in Kraaif ontein on Saturday.
Constable Thandoxolo Ndiki, 30, was found shot in the upper body in Delft on the same day. He died later in hospital.
Constable Amanda Ladlokova was shot and killed in Philippi East last Tuesday.
Recent statistics released by the SAPS show police officers are being attacked more in the Western Cape than anywhere else in SA.
Statistics show that this year a total of 714 police officers have been attacked in SA (276 in the province); while 38 have been slain in SA.
Police spokesperson André Traut confirmed shootings involving two police officers on Saturday morning.
“During the early hours of yesterday (Saturday), a 33-year-old off-duty police constable stationed at Mitchells Plain SAPS was fatally wounded during an apparent attempted hijacking in Bloekombos, Kraaifontein.
“The member was in the area to drop off a family member when he was approached by three unknown suspects who made an attempt to rob him.
“On Saturday, a police constable stationed at Athlone SAPS was found in Owen Madikane Street, Delft, with a bullet wound to his shoulder. He was admitted to hospital, where he later succumbed,” said Traut.
He said the circumstances are under investigation, but no one has been arrested.
Traut also confirmed gunshots during a police intervention yesterday, which resulted in a police sergeant being wounded in the leg.
“SAPS members who were on patrol responded to a riotous situation in Manenberg Avenue. During the altercation, a police vehicle was also damaged.
“Police members took action and discharged shots to defuse the situation,” said Traut.
He said the sergeant was treated for a leg injury and later discharged, and there was no report of any other injuries as a result of the police action.
Last week, Ladlavuka and Etienne Conradie, 50, were shot in the line of duty.
Ladlavuka and her partner, both stationed at Philippi East police station, were serving a protection order in Philippi before responding to another incident in the area.
Three assailants opened fire on the two officers, killing the mother-of-three and critically wounding her partner.
Conradie was shot while conducting a crime-prevention operation in Manenberg, searching for illegal firearms and drugs.
Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union spokesperson Mncedisi Mbolekwa said they were shocked at the news of more officers being killed.
Community Safety MEC Dan Plato said he condemns cop killings and the Western Cape government has increased the reward to R100 000 for relevant information.
Anyone with information is requested to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111.