Tonga - Mpumalanga police were searching for a man who allegedly shot and seriously injured a police officer with his own service firearm while he was attending to a stock theft complaint, police said on Thursday.
Constable Mandlenkosi Thwala, 37, was attending to the complaint with Warrant Officer Phumulani Msimango, 47, on Tuesday in Mgobodzi, Tonga, said Brigadier Selvy Mohlala.
“The two members, travelling together with a complainant and his wife, were conducting preliminary investigations when they went to a certain house at Mgobodzi.”
On arrival, they found a man whom the complainant accused of stealing his goat.
The police asked the man to show them where the goat or meat was, and he told them to follow him.
The man then allegedly produced a knife, and ordered everyone to leave him alone.
“It is further alleged that Constable Thwala pulled out his service pistol and instructed the man to put down his knife,” Mohlala said.
“Apparently the man managed to grab Thwala's firearm and shot him on his upper body. He then fled the scene.”
Police had since launched a manhunt for the shooter, and requested anyone who had information on the shooting to contact police.
Sapa