Cape Town - Parliament’s portfolio committee on police on Thursday renewed calls for the Western Cape police to intensify highway patrols following the murder of an off-duty Hawks’ officer on the N2.
“SAPS [SA Police Service] in the province needs to increase its operations in order to deal with these incidents,” said committee chairman Francois Beukman.
“SAPS needs to be vigilant in rooting out these criminal elements on our roads.”
Warrant officer Petrus Holz, 50, who was with the Hawks’ commercial crimes unit, was stabbed to death early on Wednesday morning while changing a flat tyre.
Several suspects were on Thursday being questioned in connection with the incident.
“The killing of police officers in this manner is of grave concern to the committee and it is an indication of dangerous conditions under which police officers work,” Beukman said.
“SAPS management should ensure that members are provided with adequate security and back-up when confronting crime.”
ANA