Durban - Slain Durban policeman Warrant Officer Norman John died “a warrior’s death”, according to distraught friends and colleagues.
John, 44, was shot in an office at the Pinetown police station on Friday night, police said. He was shot alongside an alleged drug dealer he had arrested earlier.
The alleged dealer died later in hospital. Two other policemen were wounded.
A man who was being detained in the office had allegedly disarmed John and shot him in the chest.
The area where he was killed is near the detainee holding cells at the back of the Pinetown police station. John, who was part of the Pinetown SAPS rapid response team, was in an office taking the fingerprints of the drug dealer while his partners were booking in the evidence - seized cocaine and ecstasy.
Earlier, police had stopped a vehicle whose driver was allegedly drunk. The passenger in the car was also allegedly drunk and was being held for defeating the ends of justice.
Another policeman had put the passenger into the same office where John and the unidentified drug dealer were.
It is unclear what happened, but the detainee had possession of a gun and shot John in the chest.
He also shot the drug dealer.
Police spokesman, Captain Thulani Zwane, said officers in the station had confronted the passenger who fired shots at them.
During the shoot-out, Sergeant Mondli Mkhize and Constable Siyanda Mazibuko were wounded.
The gunman was shot dead.
Speaking from his hospital bed, an emotional Mazibuko told the Sunday Tribune that everything happened “so fast”.
“What happened is just heartbreaking and tragic. I still can’t believe my colleague was shot dead, and that one is fighting for his life in hospital,” said a tearful Mazibuko, who was shot in his right leg.
“The guy just went wild. It was almost like a hostage situation… there was blood everywhere. I had to hide in the toilet to take cover. I am thankful to be alive.”
Family spokesman, Pastor Luke Joseph, said policing had been John’s life.
“He was dedicated to serving everyone. He left for work at 5am that morning. Normally he comes home during the day to rest before heading out again. He did not have a regular shift. They monitored the crime trends and often patrolled during times that crimes were often committed.
“He was also hell-bent on ridding the streets of drugs and often went on long stakeouts,” Joseph said.
Tributes poured in on social media since the killing.
A post on the C-3 (Community Crime Co-operative) Facebook page read: “Norman had 24 years’ service in the SAPS, spending much of it in the Pinetown area, working out of the CSC (Community Service Centre), crime prevention and in task teams. He often manned the police radio control on channel 15.
“His knowledge, experience and long service should have made him a fine commissioned officer. He put a lot of crooks in jail and a lot of crooks in the morgue. Norman was the reliable, strong and steadfast guy you wanted on your side in a fight.
“The police are much poorer today for the loss we have suffered. A vacuum is in our lives, none can replace.
“Norman died fighting criminals. He died a warrior’s death. He will live long in our hearts and minds as a faithful and brave friend. He loved his work, he hated criminals. He loved his friends and colleagues and we love him still.”
He leaves his wife, Radha, and two stepchildren, Charmaine and Vernon.
John, whose Facebook icon states: “This we do so that others may live”, also had a passion for gardening and nature. He adored his two Jack Russell dogs, Thomas and Nola.
A candlelight vigil will be held at the Pinetown police station on Monday during John’s funeral. A motorcade will leave his residence in Elm Place, Sarnia, at 10am for the Caversham church for the funeral before proceeding to Clare Estate Crematorium at 2.30pm.
SA Policing Union president Mpho Kwinika said he did not know about the circumstances but said it was “terrible”.
Last month, a policewoman in the Point police station in South Beach was grazed by a bullet after a man disarmed her and went on a shooting spree with the police firearm.
Daily News