Off-duty officer killed for his pistol

Aziz Hartley

A POLICEMAN off duty was shot dead when three men confronted him in a panel-beating shop in an informal settlement and demanded that he hand over his service firearm last night.

The trio grabbed the policeman’s service pistol and ran from the workshop at Allies’ Place, in Nyanga Vlei near Philippi, police spokesman Tembinkosi Kinana said.

The policeman’s name was being withheld until his family had been told.

The officer was in his early 30s and based at the Gugulethu police station, Kinana said.

He declined to disclose whether the officer was married or had children, saying this information would be divulged later.

“Right now we are trying to get as much detail as we can about the incident,” Kinana said.

The provincial police condemned the policeman’s murder, he added.

“Those who are hell-bent on attacking the police must know they are attacking the state,” Kinana said.

“The police will stop at nothing to ensure those responsible face the full might of the law.

“The provincial commissioner and management express sincere (sympathy for) the family and the colleagues of the officer.”

The murder of the policeman follows that of Ngangezwe Calvin Mkhize, a constable shot dead by robbers outside his Lingelethu West house in Khayelitsha in January.

Mkhize was shot in his driveway early on January 26.

He had been stationed in Khayelitsha.

On October 10, metro police officer Mpumelelo Xakekile was shot dead as he was issuing a fine to a minibus taxi driver in Khayelitsha.

Xakekile was 50.

Two days later, constables Phindiwe Nikani and Mandisi Nduku were shot in Imizamo Yethu informal settlement, Hout Bay, and died. Nikani was 26 and Nduku 27.

Anyone with information about the murder should contact the nearest police station or call Crime Stop anonymously at 0860 10111 or SMS Crimeline at 32211.

aziz.hartley@inl.co.za