Durban - A policeman was shot dead in the holding cells at Pinetown SAPS early yesterday after a detainee disarmed him and killed him with his own gun.
Siyabonga Mndunge, 33, then went on a shooting spree that left two policemen critically wounded, before he was shot dead by other officers.
Police identified their dead colleague as Warrant Officer Norman John, 44.
Sergeant Mondli Mkhize and Constable Siyanda Mazibuko are seriously injured in hospital.
On Friday night, police stopped a vehicle in which Mndunge was the passenger.
The driver was apparently drunk and was taken into custody, while Mndunge was held for defeating the ends of justice.
Shortly after midnight, while he was in the holding cells, Mndunge allegedly fought with a cellmate, who had apparently been arrested for being in possession of drugs.
The two came to blows, and John stepped inside to separate the two.
It is believed Mndunge overpowered John, took his gun and shot him in the chest, killing him.
Mndunge then shot the detainee he was fighting with.
Provincial police spokesman Captain Thulani Zwane said officers in the station had confronted Mndunge.
During the shoot-out, Mkhize and Mazibuko were wounded and Mndunge shot dead.
Speaking from his hospital bed, an emotional Mazibuko said everything happened “so fast”.
“What happened is just too 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.”
Meanwhile, John’s family were struggling to come to terms with what happened.
His uncle, Pastor Luke Joseph, said John had been in the police force for the last 25 years, and his job was his life.
“He was so dedicated. We didn’t expect him to leave us like this. He would always go beyond the call of duty and dedicate his time to serving everyone.
“He went to work early on Friday morning and hadn’t returned for the entire day, because that is how dedicated he was,” Joseph said.
“We still can’t believe what has happened.”
John leaves behind two children and his wife, Radha.
He will be buried on Monday.
KwaZulu-Natal’s provincial police commissioner, Mmamonnye Ngobeni, said the entire police force was shaken by the incident.
“We send our condolences to the friends and families of the deceased. We condemn what has happened, and it is always tragic to lose one who spends his whole life trying to fight off criminals. We also wish the two policemen who have been injured a speedy recovery,” said Ngobeni. - Sunday Tribune