Durban - After eight days in hospital fighting for his life, the Durban police officer shot in KwaMashu died on Monday night.
A close friend said Warrant Officer Ashok Ramsakkan, a veteran member of the Flying Squad, was taken off life support machines just after 9pm.
His death brings the number of police officers shot dead in South Africa this year to 80.
Ramsakkan, a 51-year-old husband and father-of-two from Effingham, was shot twice in the neck with an AK-47 while following a suspicious vehicle in KwaMashu on Sunday morning, November 15.
He underwent emergency surgery and was put into a medically-induced coma.
He was breathing on his own on Sunday and appeared to be on the mend but, on Monday, doctors called his family to the hospital.
A fellow police officer described Ramsakkan as a seasoned policeman, who was “a mentor to many” and said he would be sorely missed.
Two of the province’s other police officers, a 37-year-old constable from Gingindlovu police and a 27-year-old constable from Rietvlei police, are still recovering from gunshot wounds.
Police had no news on their conditions on Tuesday.
Daily News
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